Yei commissioner pledges to pay six teachers with his own salary

September 7, 2013 (YEI) – The commissioner of Yei River County has pledged to pay six Lumaro primary school teachers, using his own salary.

Low payment of teachers, despite the high living costs, remains a huge challenge to rural schools in the area.

“As part of their [teachers] challenge, we need to come to their rescue. I have discovered that teachers here in the community schools are getting SSP20 amounting to only SSP60 per term, not worth the current living conditions”, said the commissioner.

Each of the six teachers, he said, will get SSP200 [about$50].

Augustine also promised to pay two female pupils, as part of efforts to enhance girl-child education in the school. He also donated eight blackboards to the school.

South Sudan has one of the highest Illiteracy rates in the world, with only 27% of the population said to be literate, according to the United Nations education agency (UNESCO).

(ST)