The local authorities of Pigi County in Jonglei State have complained about an insufficient number of qualified teachers and a lack of necessary textbooks and stationery as primary schools reopen across the county for the first time since the civil war erupted in December 2013.
The county education director, Mijok Dau, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that government-employed teachers have abandoned the profession for greener pastures leaving pupils at the mercy of volunteer teachers.
“We have about 21 primary schools across the county compared to just 8 lower-classes schools last year. The challenge as we begin this academic year is that there are not enough textbooks, exercise books, chalk, and even blackboards. In terms of teachers, we depend on volunteers because our teachers had left for better jobs,” he said. “This year, we registered 5821 pupils including 2670 females from class 1 to 8 and we hope that this year we will have candidates for the Certificate of Primary Education for the first time since 2013.”
“Our schools have been operating from Malakal, Upper Nile State, for the last few years but are back to Pigi despite the challenges,” Dau added.
Meanwhile, Pigi County Commissioner Nyok Malual Mayik said the state of education in Pigi is dire and appealed to humanitarian organizations to intervene.
“A large number of returnees are coming back home from Sudan, putting pressure on our resources. We relocated our schools from Malakal to Pigi County but the challenge now is that we only rely on volunteer teachers,” he said. “So, we appeal to aid agencies to support teachers so that they return from the private sector to teaching.”
A teacher, John Abiel, also appealed for aid and said they have to dismiss some pupils when it rains because of a lack of classrooms.
“Our classes are even dilapidated and when it rains, some classes are asked to go home,” he explained. “Teachers are also few so we need help.”