A cross-section of teachers in Northern Bahr el Ghazal have called on the state education ministry to swiftly release eight imprisoned teachers, saying their absence from classrooms will disrupt learning.
On Thursday, local authorities in the state sentenced eight teachers to 30 days in jail for what the authorities termed “creating insecurity’’ after they attacked staff at the state ministry of education on Wednesday.
The eight teachers were initially arrested after the state’s Teachers’ Union petitioned the governor, demanding the dismissal of Valentino Anei Deng, the acting director-general of education. Union members accused him of mishandling teacher payments.
A teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, told Radio Tamazuj that the eight were arrested on Wednesday after refusing to leave the education ministry compound, where they often gather during breaks. Deng allegedly ordered them to leave, sparking a confrontation.
Yuot Yuot, a secondary school teacher from a government school, urged the state education department to reverse the decision, cancel the case, and release the teachers from prison unconditionally. He said some of the teachers work at government schools, and that their absence will disrupt learning.
“I urge the education ministry and the Government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State to release them from prison and resolve the dispute peacefully so they can continue teaching,” Yuot appealed.
Another teacher who preferred anonymity, echoed the same sentiments.
“We call for their release. Who will teach in their place? That shows they don’t prioritize children’s education. You cannot arrest teachers for asking for their rights,” he stated. “This should not happen because the children are the ones who will suffer as victims.”
He further said the judgment passed against the eight teachers lacks legal basis, as the teachers were demanding their rights, and no proper investigation was conducted.
“The authorities want to blindfold the public, and we shall write a petition to the government again and also proceed with a peaceful protest if there is no immediate action taken by the authorities,” he added.
Meanwhile, the embattled acting director general in the education ministry, Valentino Anei Deng, who recently clashed with teachers, insists that administrative procedure must be followed and that the demand for the release of jailed teachers should come from their headteachers, noting that many of those jailed are inactive in classes.
“What I know so far is that they (detained teachers) are not active teachers teaching in the classes. They were in the teachers’ union body,” he stated. “I do not have any problem with anyone, and I do not mind whether they assaulted me or any other staff in the Ministry of Education, although it was a mistake. If they attest to that and admit that they made a mistake, they can be forgiven. We have the spirit of being colleagues as teachers.”
For her part, Agau Kon Kuol, chairlady for the Women’s Union in the state, said that although the teachers reacted physically, the concern now is the disruption in teaching.
“The issue here is that the children will be affected, and this is our main concern, especially for me as a mother,” she said. “This will have a very negative impact on the children.”