Rumbek teachers protest against salary delay
By Manyang Mayom
July 18, 2008 (RUMBEK) – Teachers in the Lakes state organized a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday morning in Rumbek town demanding their three month salaries payment.
Only three primary schools were involved in the protest which includes Riak-Dior, Ager-Gum and Rumbek girls’ primary school which marched to the county education office showing their disappointment for long overdue payment that has not been done by Lakes state authority.
The strike has affected the school children because all teachers refused to do their duties in the school during that day.
However acting director of education in Rumbek center county, David Deng Agok, said that he has convinced the demonstrators to be patient and allow the minister of education to think over the case of demonstrations.
Agok added that the workers would resumed their work routine normally as their demand is confirmed over.
The delegate of workers in the Riak-Dor primary school, Macuei Agok, said they have not been paid for three month, but he said they can be arrested by businessmen people of whom they have heavy credit.
He concluded that the workers are demanding their right to be paid as soon as possible.
Meanwhile Lakes state education minister Gordon Maker Abol has responded to the demonstrators on Thursday through state radio FM-98 saying that the ministry of education, science and technology in the government of Southern Sudan has agreed that the workers must be paid by the state government.
The minister said the number of workers in the state education ministry is over one thousand but only few serious people shall be recommended to the state government for employment.
The screening is now on process to identify the committed workers in school but people need to be patient and wait peacefully.
He said other sections in the ministry of education like adult learning program have recruited teachers without authorization from the state ministry. He further specified that the ministry has only workers that are headcounted and they will not be affected by the above mentioned measure.
This is not the first time Rumbek education staff have gone on strike since the Lakes state government was set up early in 2005, the schools demonstrate and Lakes state government always brought them under clam situation.
(ST)