Tonj schools could face disruption, with teachers threatening to strike over what they believe to be unfair work conditions and low pay, saying they need a pay rise like their colleagues in Gogrial State.

Chairperson of Teachers’ Union in Tonj, Mangong Dut Madut, said teachers are demanding payment of their arrears from January and the pay rise from February this year.

“We want increment of salaries like those of Kuacjok, Twic and Awiel. We are now eager to receive this money because the situation of teachers in Tonj is bad,” he said.

“The situation in which we are in Tonj is bad and we appeal to our government in Tonj to stand with us if there is a pay rise for teachers, so let’s have it without negations,” he added.

He pointed out that if the dispute was not resolved, teachers could go on strike before the beginning of this term.

But Tonj’s minister of education, Deng Mayom Akeen, said they have promoted teachers with low grades with conditional transfer packages.

 “We are pleased to inform the general public that we have abolished grade 14 and 12. All those teachers who were in 14 and 12 are pushed to grade 10 with their grades also improved,” he said.

“The wages are improved. Grade 10 was receiving 800 SSP but grade 10 of today will be receiving 1400 SSP, and  those who are in grade 10 are moved  to grade 8 and then grade 8 are moved to grade 7, while those who are in grade 7 are moved to grade 5. We could not promote those in grade 5 to grade 4 simply because that is done by the council of ministers,” he added.