Gov’t endorses 100 percent increment of teachers’ salaries – Awut

JUBA – South Sudan government has endorsed the increment of teachers’ salaries by at least 100 percent, a year after President Salva Kiir Mayardit announced 100 percent increase of salaries for all civil servant, a senior government official said.

In his address to the national on the 10th independence anniversary last year, Kiir said 100 percent increment of salaries had been added to national fiscal budget which was passed during a cabinet meeting a few days earlier.

“In the 2021-2022 budget, the government has resolved to increase salaries by 100 percent as phase one with immediate effect and fully review late on during the fiscal year when the economy improves,” Kiir told reporters at the time in Juba.

The Minister of General Education and Instruction Awut Achuil, said Wednesday that the council of ministers in one of its recent meetings approved the adjustment of the salaries of teachers with President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s directives.

“The adjustment of salary structure of the teachers was approved by the council to 100%. So, for us as ministry, our focus will be on how to improve the services of the teachers and invest in the training,” she is quoted by Eye Radio as saying.

Teachers’ strikes and demonstrations due to salary related issues are commonly reported across the country, with the latest strikes reported in Lakes, Upper Nile and Juba.

The senior government official further revealed that almost 90 percent of the educational budget has been dispatched by the government to the states which she said would enable teachers to received their salaries.

“As a country, we have done well by transferring 88% of our national budget from the ministry as conditional transfer to pay teacher’s salary and operation cost for both primary and secondary schools,” she said.