By Yang Ater Yang
Students at Rumbek University of Science and Technology staged a demonstration on Monday, demanding the payment of ten months’ salary arrears owed to lecturers and academic staff.
The Student Union is calling for payment of lecturers to be made within seven days.
Sabit Job Reec, the guild president, urged the government to take immediate action.
“We are here to present the concerns of the students, our concerns are that we don’t have lectures in the University, we don’t have food on campus, and the cost of having no lectures is because the lecturers have laid down their tools because they have not been paid for almost 10 months,” he said.
Reec stated that the lecturers deserve their right to be paid.
“We are calling the national ministry to take this responsibility to respond within 7 days and without that, we can go and call all the general assembly and all the students,” he added.
“We are stranded. Students have been living in hostels without food or lectures since the beginning of October. Many come from distant states and have no family support here.”
Reec warned of escalating actions if the government fails to address their demands.
“If our concerns are not taken seriously, we may organize a general assembly and March to the market. Such actions could have significant repercussions, as students are frustrated and ready to make their voices heard,” he added.
Mark Dut Abu, another student, said they havebeen without lectures for over three months, demanding the Ministry of Education pay our lecturers ten months of salary arrears so they can resume teaching.
He also called on the government to pay contractors payments for over three years.
Abu highlighted that many students who come from various regions and have nowhere to eat or obtain necessities are suffering.
“We urge our government, especially the Ministry of Higher Education, to respond to our requests swiftly,” he said.
Bhakita Philip, a student, echoed that the issues of unpaid salaries and food shortages are affecting then greatly.
“Many female students, especially those from far away, are vulnerable and lack support,” she added.
Another student, Pieng Panic added, “we are here to assert our right to education. Our lecturers cannot teach effectively without their salaries. Without education, there is no future for our country. We request the national government, particularly the Ministry of Finance, to prioritize higher education and ensure our lecturers are paid so we can resume our studies.”
Last Month, lecturers and non-teaching staff at Rumbek University of Science and Technology staged a sit-down protest demanding payment of over 10 months of Arrears.