The Ministry of General Education and Instructions has reassured teachers across the country that they will receive their salary arrears starting this week.
Dr. Kuyuk Abol Kuyuk, the undersecretary in the Ministry of General Education, on Wednesday, told trainee teachers at the Rombur National Teacher Training Institute (RNTTI) in Juba during the official opening of the teacher training program that teachers will be paid their accumulated salaries this week.
This announcement came as teachers across the country have continued to incessantly complain about delayed salaries.
John Moro, a teacher trainee at RNTTI, said they have not been paid for four months and called on the government to commit to clearing their salary arrears.
“There are several challenges we teachers have experienced. One is the delayed salaries for the last four months, almost five months now. Our families keep asking for money,” he said. “Among the challenges, we stated clearly the need to clear our salary arrears. These days our families call us to say we are enjoying ourselves in college yet they are suffering at home. So, we need to be paid so that we look after our families.”
Responding to Moro, Dr. Abol reassured the trainee teachers and all teachers that they would be paid all their salary arrears in line with the new enhanced salary adjustment. He revealed that there will be committees that will go around paying teachers in all the states.
“Your salary will be paid to you this week. But I must say that your salary is going to go to the states and this is very important. It is going to be paid by committees and not the normal way we have been paying,” ” Dr. Abol stated. “Also, you have to know that this is the new salary and I am sure that when you receive it, you will see the difference between the old and new salary.”
In July, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) passed the 2023’34 fiscal budget with a 400 percent salary increment for the organized forces and civil servants.