Governor Philip Aguer orders striking teachers to re-open school in Jonglei state
By Mach Samuel Peter, Bor, Jonglei State
October 20, 2016 (SSB) — The governor of Jonglei State H.E. Philip Aguer Panyang Jot has warned the teachers to re-open schools with immediate effect. The teachers of both primary and secondary schools in Jonglei state laid down their tools demanding the government to fulfill their long list of grievances last week.
In a teachers’ petition letter entitled “closure of schools” addressed to the governor of Jonglei state copied to Rt. Honorable speaker, ministers, directorate of secondary and primary education signed by 11 representative of the teachers, the staff are demanding that salary increment be effective in February 2016 salary and paid in arrears, permanent appointment, promotion of teachers who have been in one grade for 15 years and over, payment of phase two and phase three effective 25th July 2016 salaries and inclusion of both cost of living and computer allowances.
The Governor said that the teachers strike was misled action because the central government has issued circular for salary increment nevertheless that salary increment has not technically been implemented
“They were either misled by malicious group or they were not informed by the minister for education, we have warned them they should not take action base on rumors and if they doubt they can send their representative to Juba and we are willing to facilitate.” Governor Aguer said.
He said when the government in Juba gets the budget correctly definitely those promises and circulars will be implemented.
The teachers’ general assembly said in a letter that the phenomena of education sector in Jonglei State cannot be compared to the other states in the republic of South Sudan despite teachers’ commitment as seen in their students who lead the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education and Jonglei State Certificate of Primary Education something the governor said cannot be blamed on 8 months old government.
South Sudan national ministry of labour, public service and human resource development office of the undersecretary of Public service and human resources development addressed a letter to the first under secretary of the South Sudan national ministry of finance and economic planning tabling the approve multiplied, designed new salary structure and average costing sheet based on the three phases.
The letter revealed that 2016/2017 average costing sheet for the unified new pay scales of the civil service employees of the republic of South Sudan in South Sudanese pounds with effect from first February 2016, it increases the salary of grade 17 teachers to 979 SSP and 1776 SSP for common grade 12 teachers who are being paid 600 SSP instead.
The circular which the teachers protest also increase super grades salary from 1663 to 10,650 SSP.
It is worth noting that the national ministry of labour, public service and human resource development had incorporated in the structure the special leadership grade contained in the approved civil service act, 2011 that came into law upon the signature of the president of the government of Southern Sudan on 7th July 2011. It ensures that provisions are approved civil service act, 2011 are uniformly applied without exception.
The teachers of both primary and secondary schools have laid down their tools until the following are met: salary increment effective in 2/2016 and paid in arrears, permanent appointment letters, promotion of teachers who have been in one grade for 15 years and over, payment of phase two and phase three effective 25 July 2016 salaries and inclusion of both cost of living and computer allowances.
The ministry of education receives salary from line ministry from Juba and no salary has been increased based on the two circulars released all over South Sudan.
Even in the army where it is very urgent it is from private to 1st lieutenant but the government is working hard to alleviate the situation. The teachers have to be patience because South Sudan is passing over economic crisis like any other country in the world, he continued just like other soldiers who died in the battle field and they have not rebelled because of increment of salary
He said the teachers should consider themselves like soldiers because they are fighting ignorance, illiteracy which they should be proud of. He added that the teachers’ mission of educating the nation cannot be abandoned because of lack of increment of salary or difficult time South Sudanese people are going through.
“Promotion happen with increment of money we are almost a year and the government of Jonglei state cannot be accused of sitting over promotion. If there are people who have not been promoted by the former government then the ministry will look into that with time because you cannot just come and promote people, there is no system like that in the world.
He directed the minister for education and social welfare to issue permanent appointment to the qualified teachers so that the ministry is not run by staffs that are given temporarily appointment
“Those who are qualified must be given permanent appointment,” He said.
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