By Hou Akot Hou
Education Director for Aweil East County, Kuan Kuan has urged teachers to dedicate themselves selflessly to their work for the sake of nation-building, despite the challenges they face.
He remarked during a two-day training organized by the Universal Network for Knowledge and Empowerment Agency (UNKEA) at Kanajak, which brought together 180 teachers from Baac Payam and Madhol.
The training concluded on Tuesday, and Kuan emphasized his mission to advocate for the welfare of teachers.
“I want to highlight that the welfare of teachers is my priority. As you know, teachers used to receive benefits such as chalk fees, which were added to their salaries. This benefit was cut by former officials, but it will no longer be omitted. So please take heart and fulfil your duties,” Kuan stated.
“We will be visiting schools to see how you are implementing the new teaching methods you have been trained on, so remain vigilant as we will be monitoring your progress,” Kuan also mentioned.
Despite the lockdown directive from national authorities in Juba due to meteorological changes causing a heatwave, Kuan noted that Northern Bahr El Ghazal is also experiencing high temperatures, but schools continue to operate in the morning hours.
He advised teachers to allow children to go home before 1:00 PM to relax and instructed head teachers and supervisors to use an official reporting system, avoiding verbal reports that cannot be referenced.
The facilitator of the training session focused on thematic aspects such as lesson planning, teaching methods, lesson development, and protecting children affected by conflict in schools.
He expressed a desire to see positive changes and urged teachers to work ethically.
Ajou Ajou Akoon, a long-serving teacher who has recently become the head teacher of Majak-Akoon Secondary School and is a professional trainer, encouraged teachers to cherish their profession and avoid negativity.
“Understand your responsibilities through lesson planning, teaching methods, and other tools. Do not chase after white-collar jobs where UN or NGOs pay in dollars. Things change, and you will be remembered in society as role models and agents of change, so never lose hope,” Ajou advised.
He added, “You may not realize that the children you are teaching could one day vote for you when you decide to run for office. So work selflessly and without discrimination. I have been a teacher for many years and recently graduated from Rumbek, majoring in Education, English, and Literature. Although some of my colleagues are now employed by NGOs and the UN, I have chosen to continue in this profession as an example to others.”
This two-day training was organized by the Universal Network for Knowledge and Empowerment Agency, with funding from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund.
The organization has begun supporting some schools with educational materials and training teachers on effective methodologies.
This latest training marks the second phase following a previous session conducted in November 2024 in Wanyjok, Aweil East County.