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Since January 2022, the state ministry of education has had a separate bank account where it keeps teachers’ salaries and allowances.
The decision to have a bank account was ordered by President Salva Kiir in 2021 after months of strikes.
Speaking to Sudans Post today, John Deng Ajith, interim chairperson of Jonglei State Teachers’ Union, said state authorities have frozen the general education ministry bank account and have created a new one operated by the state ministry of finance.
“There is no clear information on why the state authorities created a new bank account for the state ministry of general education without making or giving notice to the state ministry of general education,” Ajith said.
Ajith also accused state authorities of using teachers allowances since 2006.
“Since 2006 up to 2020 all the education additional allowances, the state authorities have been using that money and this additional money were not paid to the teachers so that they can perform their duties, they can embark on quality education [for] the learners and the community,” he added.
Ajith threatened that teachers will take to the street if their concern is not addressed within 72 hours.
“If the state authorities have not given feedback within the given time, the teachers will take unilateral decision by striking and matching on the street of the state capital,” he added.
Ajith called the decision unhealthy and said it violates an order made by President Salva Kiir Mayardit regarding a separate bank account for the state teachers.
When contacted by Sudans Post, state minister of education Gabriel Deng Ajak said his ministry was not consulted in the decision made by the ministry of finance.
“The state ministry of finance decision was unliteral decision and we were not consulted so when we asked, they say the governor said. So, the whole thing lies squarely on the governor who is not in the state and who is not in the county,” Ajak said.
“We don’t know why he gave directives that the money will go to that so-called ministry of education account managed by unknown persons. We felt it is not right as the ministry,” Minister Ajak added.
Ajak warned that the decision will affect the education system in the state if not addressed amicably.
“The decision that was made by the national government to channel the education money directly to the ministry was the best decision because it made the teachers to keep quite [and] we deserve to live in peace as the state and we deserve to give each and every citizen his/her right,” he said.
“So, when teachers said this is our right they must be given” he added.
Attempts to reach the ministry of finance went unsuccessful as phone rang unanswered.
