Examiners marking the Certificate of Primary Education exams on Wednesday resumed work after the National Examinations Council paid their incentives.

On Tuesday, teachers marking the Certificate of Primary Education (PLE) examinations in Juba downed their tools following a disagreement over pay.

They quit the marking after the reduction of their weekly pay from SSP 35,000 to SSP 15,000 by the National Examinations Council (NEC).

Gatluak Nyak, one of the markers, told Radio Tamazuj that they resumed the marking of examinations on Wednesday after their demands were met.

“We resumed our work on Wednesday. We resolved the matter, and the work is almost to be finished. We returned to the agreement of SSP 35,000 instead of SSP 15, 000,” Gatluak said.

He claimed the move to deduct their transport and accommodation allowances was made by some staff at the National Examination Council.

“It was a group within the administration who decided to deduct the amount that was given to the markers and they resolved to give each marker SSP 15, 000,” Gatluak explained.

Another marker of science papers, Mayen Ruoth, said they were paid SSP 35,000.

“Yes, the exact amount of money we wanted was given back to us. We resumed our work, and most of the departments have completed their work today,” said Mayen.

For his part, Simon Nyok Deng, Secretary General of the National Examinations Council, confirmed a disagreement over the pay but said the matter has already been resolved.

“What happened, to be honest, was a simple disagreement between the managers at the centre with examiners and not even all the examiners. But their chiefs and I resolved that, and I think that is something of the past and there is nothing to be said about it now,” Simon said at a press conference in Juba on Friday.