Schools reopen in Raga county after student riots
September 25, 2014 (WAU) – Western Bahr el Ghazal’s minister for education, Michael Madut Chan, said schools in Raga county would resume normal classes.
The riots caused significant damage to school facilities in the region, with furniture, equipment and laboratories destroyed.
The riots were sparked by the ministry’s mass dismissal of teachers whose appointments remained unclear.
The schools will now reopen after the state ministry appointed 80 new primary and secondary school teachers to fill the vacancies left.
“The screening was not projected to dismiss teachers, but it was a move to ensure that any teaching staff have proper appointment documents,” said Chan.
He said dismissed teachers would be reinstated as soon as possible once their proper documents are received, adding that there remained a need for more mentors across the state.
In the meantime, newly appointed staff will be distributed across three counties.
Chan has called on the three county commissioners to cooperate with the state ministry of education to address ongoing challenges at the county level.
He also urged the students to refrain from violent actions, saying they should present their demands through peaceful means, rather than targeting school installations.
(ST)