The Ministry of General Education in Northern Bahr el Ghazal this last week held a consultative meeting attended by ministry officials, school supervisors, head teachers and media.

Main agenda items were schools reopening for the academic year 2015, involvement of teachers in politics, low performance of Aweil town in primary school exams 2014-2015, school grants and compulsory schooling in mother tongue for primary 5-8.

In remarks to teachers, the Director General in the Ministry  of General Education Jok Aleu Jok stressed the importance of teaching mother tongue in the state.

Jok said that mother tongue (Dinka) is a must for all primary schools across the state.

He also warned teachers not to join politics. "Some teachers join politics. A teacher cannot be a politician: if you want to be a party activist  you should resign and join politics we do not want teachers to practice politics at schools just we want teachers to make work plans and lesson plans. We have  a technical advisor Akook Ngor Kuacny who will move from school  to school to witness school activities," he said.

Meanwhile, Director General Banadeto said he was shocked by the poor performance of the state capital in the latest primary examinations.

"I was shocked when primary school exams results were announced -- I had hoped that Aweil Town to come at first but Aweil Town came last," he said, urging head teachers to supervise their teachers carefully to ensure better instruction of pupils.

File photo: Aweil Secondary School