Many public schools in South Sudan’s Tonj are closed due to teachers’ complaints over unpaid salaries, according to local sources.
Several teachers told Radio Tamazuj from Tonj town that some public schools were closed because unpaid teachers have stopped giving lessons to students.
“Here in Tonj only private schools are working but other public schools are not working,” said Majong Majak, a teacher in Tonj.
He also said salaries for soldiers have increased but those for civil servants have not.
Majak urged the national government to provide the salaries of the teachers so that they can resume working for a better future for the children.
For his part, Manhiam Bol, deputy governor of Tonj State, one of three controversial successor states to the Warrap State government, deflected blame for the crisis saying salaries have been delayed elsewhere in the country as well.
He said the salary increment approved by the council of ministers in February was not included in the salaries of March, saying the state government formed a committee to discuss with the teachers about resuming their duties, but some teachers refused to resume their work.
Paul denied that public schools were closed except those far from the state capital.
“This is not correct. In fact some people came to us complaining that if their salary are not increased they will not go to teaching. The Ministry of Education in Tonj formed a committee to discuss the matter with the teachers. The committee went and told the teachers that there is no any state that received any salary increment which was approved in Juba,” said Paul.
File photo: Downtown Tonj
Notice of Correction: Manhiam Bol, deputy governor, was originally misidentified in this report as Minister of Information. His name was also misspeled Maniem Paul. This has been corrected.