South Sudan’s General Education and Instruction Minister Awut Deng Achuil has warned of the closure of schools countrywide due to accumulated salary arrears. Deputy Information Minister Jacob Maiju said on Friday that Minister Awut raised the concerns at the Council of Ministers meeting, warning that public schools across the country may shut down if salary arrears are not settled. She also raised concern over the results of the last examinations, about which the new Finance Minister pledged to find a solution because it is an obligation to ensure children do not drop out of school.
“The issue of teacher pay will be resolved by the newly appointed Minister of Finance once the Cabinet presents and approves the budget,” Maiju stated.
According to him, the Cabinet had planned to reschedule the revised 2024–2025 budget, which had been rejected earlier.
“We were expecting the submission of that budget today [Friday], but because of the changes in the Ministry of Finance and the new minister taking the oath of office today, we will expect it next Friday. Then we will deliberate and have it passed,” he said.
Just four months into his position, Kiir fired Finance Minister Wow Daniel Chuang on Thursday. Chuang was the sixth person to fill the position since 2020.
Due to a decline in crude oil export earnings following the violence that lasted from 2013 to 2018 and, more recently, disruptions in exports brought on by fighting in neighboring Sudan, South Sudan’s economy has been under strain.
The misuse of funds obtained from non-oil income was the reason given by President Salva Kiir on Friday for acknowledging that troops and public servants had not received their wages for nine months.
Teachers and doctors, for example, are among the professionals whose monthly salaries range from $10 to $50. They have also seen lengthy payment delays.
The parties have only been able to partially implement the 2018 renewed peace accord, which brought together the government and erstwhile armed opposition organizations.
The effect of the civil war in the country continues to be felt, with an estimated 9 million people out of 12.5 million people needing safety and humanitarian assistance.
President Salva Kiir urged the populace to come together on Independence Day and concentrate on enhancing economic progress.
