EU Extends Teachers’ Incentive Programme for 3 Months

16.06.2021

Ambassador Christian Bader and Minister Awut Deng Acuil during the press conference on Wednesday.

The European Union Delegation to South Sudan together with the Ministry of General Education and Instructions today announced the extension of the incentives to primary school teachers by the Impact Education Project for three more months.

Through its ‘IMPACT’ project, the EU has been instrumental to maintain the education system from 2017 to 2020. The exceptional and temporary continuation of the IMPACT programme is triggered by the Covid-19 difficult times. It complements the salaries that the Government owes to the teachers.

Man attending to the media

Ambassador Christian Bader  during the press conference at the Ministry of General Education and Instruction on Wednesday.

Following the reopening of schools in May 2021, both the Ministry and the EU agreed to pay further incentives of 21,400 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) to 33,000 primary school teachers at the end of the first term.

“The European Union has been and still is a key partner for education in South Sudan. We are extremely happy that we have been able to secure additional fund to extend the IMPACT Programme for three more months,” said EU Ambassador Christian Bader during a joint press conference with the General Education Minister Awut Deng Acuil in Juba on Wednesday.

“We hope that this will contribute to teachers’ motivation to return to schools following the reopening of schools. The EU remains fully committed to support the crucial sector of education in South Sudan, where the enrolment and attainment of girls, as well as the situation of IDPs and returnees need to be thoroughly addressed.”

Minister Awut commended the European Union and its Member States for their relentless support to education in South Sudan.  The minister also revealed that teachers’ salaries are being reviewed which she hopes would motivate teachers to keep in their classrooms.

Under the IMPACT Project, primary school teachers in 3000 schools have been paid incentives, which the Hon. Awut said greatly helped teachers to carry on with their work despite the many challenges they faced.

FULL STATEMENT ATTACHED

 

Two people attending to the media

Ambassador Christian Bader  and Minister Awut Deng Acuil during the press conference at the Ministry of General Education and Instruction on Wednesday.