The Unity State Ministry of General Education last Friday reinstated 24 headteachers from various schools in Bentiu following their suspension two weeks ago.
Stephen Mayiel Gatkoi, the Director General in the state education ministry, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the headteachers were suspended because they did not report to work when people demonstrated in Bentiu demanding the release of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
“They were accused of involvement in the IDP camp protest, and they were not found innocent because they did not report the closure of schools in Bentiu IDP camp,” he said. “We held a meeting with the 24 headteachers and we have now reinstated them to work.”
Mayiel said the community high committee is the one that ordered the closure of schools and that the ministry’s investigation found that the teachers ignored administrative orders.
“We advised them that schools should be independent of community activities and politics,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Chuol Kuol Ngop, one of the affected headteachers, confirmed their reinstatement.
“We were reinstated to our school offices after two weeks of suspension,” he said. “I will provide the details tomorrow morning after I receive the letter from the ministry.”