Central Equatoria Teachers Present Salary Grievances to Governor

(JUBA) – Governor Rabi Mujung Emmanuel of Central Equatoria State on Tuesday held a meeting with the leadership of the State Teachers’ Union, who visited the State Secretariat in Juba to raise a number of pressing concerns affecting teachers across the state.

The Governor, a retired Lieutenant General, welcomed the delegation and assured them that he would study the issues carefully before determining the appropriate steps to take.

He highlighted the importance of cooperation between the government and the Union to improve the working conditions of teachers and create a better learning environment for pupils throughout Central Equatoria.

After the meeting, Charles Alexander, who represented the Union during the visit, addressed journalists and outlined the main points discussed with the Governor.

These included the urgent need to improve teachers’ welfare, reclaim government owned teachers’ accommodation currently occupied or leased out for private investment and tackle limited access to basic services such as healthcare and housing.

“Our main problem is accommodation and the illegal occupation of school public spaces, particularly in Juba One, Juba Day, Juba Commercial and Konyo-Konyo,” said Alexander. “These spaces belong to the State Ministry of Education. As the Union, we are the legal body mandated to advocate for the rights of teachers and to seek solutions to the challenges they face.”

Alexander noted that many teachers have been demotivated due to inconsistent salary payments and the absence of proper housing. He said these issues had worsened the living and working conditions of teachers in both urban and rural areas.

He added, “Our primary objective is to ensure that essential services are accessible to teachers and that their rights are respected and protected.”

The Teachers’ Union also raised concerns over the long standing occupation of public school spaces in Juba, many of which have reportedly been turned into business premises, depriving teachers of vital accommodation and disrupting the education sector’s physical infrastructure.

In particular, the Union called on the government to address the status of facilities such as: