By Bida Elly David
The Central Equatoria State Minister of education decried shortage of teachers in public schools over poor remuneration and delayed arrears that constitute teachers’ exit for greener pastures to improve their standard of living.
Speaking during the launching of National Consultative meeting yesterday the State Minister of education, Cirisio Wani Zacharia pointed out lack of financial support, delayed salaries being factors to blame for employment turnover of teachers from public institutions of learning into enterprises.
“One of the reasons why learning within education sector has not been moving well is due to low salaries making teachers to quit the teaching profession for business ventures to improve their standard of living. How does the government expect teachers to work under delayed arrears yet they have domestic responsibilities over their children? They need to feed, medicate, educate and dress their siblings but due to financial constraints as a result of less salaries and delayed remuneration they quit’’ he stressed.
“On behalf of the State Ministry of Education, I would like to appreciate the National Ministry of Education in collaboration with the United Nations for having been very close to their services to the State Ministry of Education. Honestly, education is one of the crucial elements in the world that transforms people and the society entirely. It is through education that a nation can be built and that is why every Country takes it a real and actual priority’’ he said.
Zacharia further reiterated that over the past years, education system used to be stable since salaries and wages were paid in time as a motive to retain teachers but of recent, government learning institutions have been vacated by teachers due to low salaries and wages.
“Some of our teachers tend to seek job opportunities for private schools after exiting the public institutions because they pay teaches highly with additional incentives to motivate them on service delivery’’ In the early days, teachers used to be paid timely but due to these numerous incidents, they education sector has been jeopardised and affected’’ he said.
At the same juncture, Cirisio appreciated South Sudan partners especially the United Nations for having being close to the government whenever there is need.
“I appreciate our partners United Nations for having stood firm towards supporting the education sector in the Country. Every time we organise education initiatives, we have never been abandoned rather they extend their hands to our support. We shall continue appreciating them as well as work with them towards adjusting and putting the education sector in place’’ he said.
He called on policy makers and partners of good will to work towards prioritizing the education sectors so that government institutions restore back their former performances through the teachers.