By Yiep Joseph
Vice President for Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol Ayii, has issued a stern warning to teachers intending to sabotage the ongoing teachers’ assessment process across the country.
The Ministry of General Education and Instruction under the Service Cluster has started assessing thousands of teachers in three states: Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes State, and Warrap State and is ready to do the same in the other states and Administrative Areas.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that some states and Administrative Areas schools condoned untrained/unqualified teachers due to the inability to maintain the qualified ones coupled with salary delay.
Although the assessment exams are reported to be proceeding in high gear, some section of teachers continue to oppose the process and called on the government to prioritize salary payment rather than screening.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Abdelbagi stated that the ongoing assessment of teachers across the country is part of the transformation of the education sector.
He threatened that the government may dismiss those sabotaging the process.
“Whoever (teachers) is not going to sit for these screening exams, we are going to remove him from the system; it is better for him to sit for these exams so that he/she can continue,” he warned.
“We (the government) will assume him (the teacher protesting the screening exams) is not qualified,” he added.
He called on the teachers and those intending to protest the process to cooperate or else face the law.
“I am here today telling them to cooperate; if they are not cooperating, they are going to take the risk on their own,” he said.
With the hope of improving learning, the Ministry of General Education and Instruction under the service cluster is rolling out screening of teachers.
While the process started with primary teachers, it has been successful in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Lakes State; it faces minimal challenges in Warrap State.
Being the nationwide process in line with the transformation of the education sector, it will reach all the states and administrative areas.
VP Abdelbagi added that the screening is in good faith to ensure that those who need more training are identified and get trained as well.
Recently, Warrap State Minister of General Education and Instruction, Awut Mayom Agok, criticized some of the teachers for protesting the ongoing assessment.
Her response came after some government-employed primary teachers in Gogrial West and Twic counties refused to participate in the screening exams, citing unpaid salaries.
Warrap State has 1,075 primary schools and 48 secondary schools, with a total of 7,000 teachers who require proper screening to improve educational quality.
Warrap State Minister of General Education and Instruction Awut Mayom Agok expressed that the demand for pay is a sole right of teachers but has no connection with the ongoing assessment examinations.
“For those demanding their salary arrears, it has no relationship; you can sit as you still wait for your arrears. Refusing to sit proves your nonexistence or lack of qualification to be called a teacher, she said.
“Refusing to sit proves your nonexistence or lack of qualification to be called a teacher,” the minister said.
She added that the assessment is purposely to allow the government to know where more training is needed in the state.
The minister called on the teachers and the public to cooperate with the government in improving the quality of education.
“We kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation as we strive to improve the quality of education in our state. These measures are in place to ensure that our teachers are well-sorted and equipped to provide the best education possible for our children,” she said.
In August 2024, the Warrap State Ministry of General Education and Instructions announced that the state will soon implement professional screening examinations for both primary and secondary school teachers.