The Dean’s Board of the University of Juba has postponed the planned strike for one more week.
Last week, the institution’s administration gave a seven-day ultimatum to the government to either pay their six-month salary arrears or risk closure of the university.
The seven days have come to an end. But the administration says that after a meeting on Monday, they resolved to further postpone the strike for another week due to ongoing mediation efforts.
Bek Dhuorjang Chol, the Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor told Radio Tamazuj, “We had an extraordinary Dean’s Board meeting No.4 on the 14th of March 2022 as it was previously agreed, and it was about updates on the progress on our demands. Two, issues arise, a request to have a meeting with the president is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday), and all the Vice-Chancellors, ministers of general education and higher education will be meeting the president.”
Dhuorjang added that some individuals of goodwill are mediating between the institution and the ministry of finance to clear the arrears and agree on payment modalities.
He confirmed that the university has not yet received any money from the ministry of finance until now.
“Therefore, because of these two, and the efforts of the individuals mediating and the request by His Excellency the president to have a meeting with him is what the Dean’s Board have seen as genuine and then they have extended the suspension of lectures until Monday, 21st of this month. And that is what has prompted the meeting with the president tomorrow because the president wants to intervene to help solve the problem,” he added.
The dean’s board last week called on the ministry of finance to ensure effective payment of the six-month salary arrears by 14th March 2022, the ministry of education and the ministry of finance to speedily review and implement the adjusted salary structure, and university staff to lay down their tools if the demands are not met.
The University of Juba is the largest public university in South Sudan with over 29,000 students.