By Ephraim Modi D.S
The Deputy Minister in the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, Martin Tako Moyi in a statement to the media on Monday said salary arrears of teachers in the country have been increased by 140 percent starting this fiscal year.
Addressing members of the press, the Undersecretary in the Ministry of General Education and Instruction Kuyok Abol Kuyok confirmed the increment of the teacher’s salary to the journalists on Monday.
“I think we all know that the Ministry of Public Services and Human Resource Development, doubled 100% new salary scale increase in the pay and in fact for teachers, it is 140% of what they were getting previously,” Abol confirmed.
Undersecretary Kuyok called on education officials in the States and the three administrative areas to pay the teachers using the new salary structure.
Meanwhile the Deputy Minister said they have been taking care of teachers by raising their issues to the Council of States.
He underscored that most of the teachers teaching in the public schools quit for private schools and humanitarian agencies because of the poor salary scale which is not enough for them.
The Ministry of General Education and Instruction in a press statement commended the Ministry of Finance and Planning for disbursing the teachers’ salary arrears of January and February to accounts of the State Ministries of Education.
Deputy Minister Moyi in his statement to the media expressed his gratitude to H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and Vice President for Service Delivery Cluster H.E Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, for ensuring that the Ministry of Finance and Planning remit the salary arrears to the State Ministries of Education.
He stated that the salaries come with responsibilities attached that require the State Ministers of Education to consult and seek advice of Governors in paying teachers, ensure all teachers in the State receive their salaries based on the new salary structure, pay operation funds to County Education Offices (CEO) and Head Quarters of State Ministries of Education.
Deputy Minister Moyi then directed State Ministers of Education to monitor and receive accountability reports on payment and expenditure of operation funds; and provide accountability report to Hon Governors and Council of Ministers at the end of each payment.
He further urged all State ministers to cooperate with State Governors.
In a statement released by United Nations International Children’s Agency (UNICEF), clarified that a life of a teacher in the country as ranked by South Sudan Society as bottom of career hierarchy, with many in the profession subjected to bullying and ridicule.