Governance

The International Education Agency of Papua New Guinea Limited (IEA) is a company incorporated in PNG under the Companies Act (1997). The IEA became a company limited by shares in 1998.

In IEA schools across Papua New Guinea, the community plays an important part in the success of each school. The IEA encourages and enables stakeholder participation in the organisation's governance.

The IEA, and its schools operate, within the laws of PNG, IEA policy using good practice. The overarching governance of the IEA is set out in the IEA Constitution.

The IEA Governance and Management

The IEA of PNG Ltd.

The International Education Agency was formed by the PNG Education Department in 1976. It was then incorporated as an independent company on 26 January 1977 and was re-registered under the Companies Act (1997) on 1 August 2023.

The IEA is a not-for-profit company which owns and operates the IEA's schools.

Shares in the IEA are allocated to IEA School Associations. No other body or individual, besides a school association, may be a shareholder.

The shareholders have the majority of seats on the IEA Board of Directors. The Board sets the policies and directions of the IEA and its schools.

Day-to-day management of the IEA and implementation of IEA policies is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer and his/her staff.

The IEA Constitution

The overarching governance of the IEA is directed by the IEA Constitution. The constitution describes the powers and responsibilities of the IEA Board of Directors.

The constitution is approved and amended by the IEA's shareholders.

The IEA shareholders passed a revised constitution at the AGM on 31st August 2023. The new constitution came into effect on 1st January 2024.

Shareholders

The IEA Board has the power to issue and withdraw shares, only IEA school associations can hold shares.

The primary functions of the school association are set-out in the IEA constitution;

1. Being a member of the Company and hold a share allocated to it and to vote with that share at IEA General Meetings. To nominate one of its members as a candidate for election to the IEA Board.

2. To represent and promote the interests of a specified educational institution owned and operated by the Company in respect of which no other shareholder is registered.

IEA School Associations

All schools owned by the IEA register an association in the school's name with the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA). School Associations are regulated by the Incorporated Associations Act. IEA school associations operate under a School Association Constitution. This constitution is common to all IEA school associations.

Parents of the students and all teachers can be members of the School Association.

The purpose of the School Association is to be a member of the IEA, to hold the share in the IEA and to be represented at the IEA AGM and General Meetings.

Each School Association holds an Annual General Meeting at which the association committee is elected. The committee may then nominate its members to the IEA to become school governors.

For further information about an IEA school association please contact the school principal who is the public officer of the association.

The IEA Board of Directors

The IEA constitution sets the composition of the Board of Directors.

The School Associations, as shareholders, elect representatives to become Directors of the IEA as follows;

Four directors from Port Moresby,

One director elected from Lae, and

Two directors elected from the other shareholders.

The other elected directors are;

A principal elected by IEA school principals and

A teacher elected by the IEA teachers.

This structure enables stakeholders (parents and employees) to be involved in the IEA’s governance.

The IEA Board has the ultimate responsibility for the performance and sound management of each of the IEA schools, and the entire system.

IEA Management

The IEA senior management includes:

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO)-who has overall responsibility for day to day and strategic operations.

The Director of Education (DoE)-is responsible for school operations including the curriculum, teaching staff performance and the professional development of education staff.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO)-manages the financial operations, auditing and statutory reporting for the IEA, including schools. THE CFO is the company secretary.

The Manager of People and Culture (MPC)-this role includes a range of operations including human resources, properties, security and support services.

School Management

The school principal is appointed by the IEA and is the manager of the school. The IEA delegates authority and responsibilities to the principal to best perform their duties. The principal is a member of the school board of governors.

All IEA school managers are ultimately responsible to the CEO. The principal’s direct line-manager is the Director of Education and principals should consult with the DoE on all aspects of successful school leadership.

According to its size a school may have one or more deputy principals or other senior teaching staff.

All schools will have ancillary (non-teaching) staff, who assist in the operation of the school.

School Boards of Governors

The IEA may establish a board of governors at schools and appoint its members. Typically, this includes the School Association Committee members, but alternative arrangements are possible.

Additional members of the school board are the principal, a teacher’s representative, and the IEA’s appointed member.

The school board may also co-opt community members to join the board, with approval of the IEA.

The IEA Board delegates specific functions to the School Board, which may vary from time to time. The School Board functions through regular meetings and make its decisions within the policies and regulations set by the IEA.

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