VP Hussein urges state governors to back teacher screening

JUBA – South Sudan’s Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol has urged state governors and local officials to support a nationwide teacher screening process, saying the initiative is crucial for improving the quality of education.

Akol, who oversees the service delivery cluster, told a news conference in Juba on Wednesday that the screening, conducted by the National Ministry of General Education and Instruction, should be implemented without interference.

“I would like to especially appeal to the governors, chief administrators, state assemblies, ministers of general education in the states and administrative areas, commissioners, and teachers to support the process and cooperate with the National Ministry of General Education and Instruction to achieve this mandate without interference or sabotage,” Akol said.

The vice president said thousands of teachers have already been screened in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Lake states, with the process now underway in Warrap State. He indicated that the majority of teachers would likely be confirmed in their positions after the screening, with high-performing teachers offered training opportunities.

The overall findings, he added, will be presented to government institutions, including the cabinet, before being made public.

Akol emphasized that the screening and training programs are part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the education sector, in line with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and the government’s reform agenda.

“In alignment with the R-ARCSS reform agenda and the government’s reform policy, the Service Delivery Cluster has directed the Ministry of General Education and Instruction to implement necessary reforms to improve and strengthen the quality of education in the country,” he said.

“The Ministry has embarked on various reforms to meet this target, and part of these reform policies includes teacher screening and training,” he added.

Akol affirmed that his office would continue to oversee the teacher screening and other reform initiatives within the service delivery cluster. The vice president’s call for support underscores the government’s focus on improving education standards in the country.