The Minister of Education in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state says lessons for the first term were not taught to pupils because of failure by the government to pay teachers.

Kon Deng Chol said teachers were busy pursuing their salaries with the recently dissolved Crisis Management Committee, and failed to attend classes.

“All the teachers were running after their salaries,” said Mr Deng, “they were moving after the Crisis Management Committee from county to county whenever they didn’t get paid.”

He told Eye Radio that the teachers refused to teach during the first term, unless they are paid.

“Studies did not go that well in the first term; they didn’t complete the courses or topics that have been approved by the Ministry of Education.”

Mr. Kon said the complaints of the teachers have been presented to the National Ministry of Education, but no respond has been made.