SPLM Chief Whip urges gov’t to prioritize teachers’

JUBA — The Chief Whip of the ruling party, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) at Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Rebecca Joshua Okwaci has urged the government to improve the working conditions of teachers to help attract more youth into the teaching profession.

In South Sudan, teaching is considered one of the least paying professions. Teachers have often complained of low pay and poor working conditions.

They are paid salaries of less than 5 dollars per month.

Some of them have reportedly abandoned the profession and joined non-governmental organizations.

Others have resorted to manual jobs such as riding Boda-Boda to make ends meet.

Public school teachers go for four to six months without salaries.

Speaking during n ordinary sitting of lawmakers in Juba on Monday, Joshua stressed the need for government to put the interests of the teachers as a priority to motivate the educators.

“If we don’t work on our teachers and give them good payment and good training, our children will continue to suffer,” she said.

The ruling party Chief Whip appealed to the government to play an important role in encouraging teachers to contribute meaningfully in molding upright children.

“This year, there has been a good result for our children who sat for South Sudan Secondary School but still without teachers who are motivated. I will not have a good education and this will affect the whole system of education including the universities,” she said.