The Ministry of Labor and Human Resources in Eastern Equatoria State last Friday summoned the management of Torit Vocational Training Center (TVTC) over the alleged illegal suspension of volunteer tutors after the latter demanded pay.
The suspension of the six tutors prompted the students to go on strike and march to the governor’s office, where they demanded reinstatement of the instructors.
Benjamin Okwahi, Director General at the State Ministry of Labor and Human Resources, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that he summoned the TVTC administration over the matter.
“On Friday, some tutors at Torit Vocational Training Center submitted a complaint that the management terminated the contract of six instructors,” he explained. “That made us summon the headmaster of TVTC and his deputy to come and answer why they terminated the six instructors verbally.”
Okwahi, however, said the school’s management did not follow the right procedures in suspending the tutors and that he ordered that they be reinstated.
“That suspension was not satisfying, and that is why we decided that they should go and continue teaching because the procedure was not in order,” he said. “They should have been contracted officially so that they know how much money they earn in a specific period of work. When their contract elapses, they would then sign another one in case there is a need.”
For his part, Okello Germano, Principal of Torit Vocational Training Center, admitted that they suspended the six tutors due to a high wage bill and other operational costs. He clarified that the suspended tutors are volunteers who were brought in by their colleagues who work at the institution.
“The four teachers who signed an agreement for the project in the four departments were raising concerns that they were overloaded, and they decided to call their colleagues to work as volunteers,” he explained. “Those who filed the complaint did not officially sign an agreement and are volunteers who were called by their fellow teachers. They raised concerns that reached the labor office.”
“As these people [volunteers] were complaining too, it was decided that it was better to rest or suspend them for the moment,” Okello added.
For his part, Philip Benson Okongo, a teacher at TVTC, said the suspended tutors have forgiven the management for what he termed an illegal action. He explained that the tutors had earlier demanded an increment in their wages to match the current economic hardships, but were victimized and suspended.
“We want to give the knowledge to our people, and we do not put a lot of emphasis on the money. We have already forgiven them, even if they do not pay. However, we know our people [students] very well and know how to work with them. We know how to teach them [students],” he stated. “We worry that if another contract comes, I do not know if they are going to include us because sometimes you have family issues like sickness to deal with, and this, and if tutors are absent, the student will not continue with studies. We need positive change, because then things will work well.”