Over 33,000 South Sudan teachers to receive incentives under EU-funded project

JUBA – A total of 33,000 primary school teachers in South Sudan will each receive $40 incentives per month under the IMPACT project funded by the European Union (EU).

In April 2017, the EU and South Sudan government launched the IMPACT project, with Cambridge Education’s parent company, Mott MacDonald, contracted as project manager.

The IMPACT is part of the wider EU Emergency Trust Fund, which aims to bring stability in African countries by addressing the root causes of irregular migration and displacement.

IMPACT pays incentives equivalent to $40, on a quarterly basis, to 33,000 primary school teachers in the country.

This intervention aims to prevent the exodus of qualified teachers nationwide and promote teacher attendance.

“Following the reopening of schools in May 2021, both the Ministry and the EU Delegation agreed to pay the exiting IMPACT incentives for 33,000 primary school teachers at the end of the first term,” said Awut Deng Achuil, Minister of General Education on Wednesday in Juba.

Deng said that the incentives will be paid to teachers in public schools.

“The incentives will be paid in cooperation with UNICEF for teachers in public or state primary schools and alternative learning centers across the country in August 2021,” Achuil said.

She added that “this one-time payment will cover incentives for three months, from May to August”.

She appreciated the partners for their continued support to the ministry of education.

“The ministry is committed to pursuing self-reliance of an effective and equitable system for general education through South Sudanese resources,” she said.

She disclosed the process for validation of teachers’ incentives will commence while calling on teachers to resume their duties immediately.

“The Ministry and UNICEF have commenced the process of validation of teachers in schools. Teachers who will not be validated will not qualify for incentives,” she said.

“We urge all the teachers in state primary schools to resume their duties immediately as the government is working on the new salary structures for teachers,” she added.