The Government is being asked to pay teachers’ salaries on time.

The request comes from the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.

70% of the country’s population doesn’t know how to read and write.

UNESCO’s Salak Khalid says paying teachers’ salaries on time will motivate then and this will improve the quality of education in the country.

“If the country wants to move forward, developed to build properly, the first investment must be on teachers,” said Mr Khalid.

“The first investment should be to make sure that everybody has the obligation to be given his or her rights.

“South Sudan cannot go forward if 70% of its people don’t know how to read and write.”

Mr. Khalid says if the government wants South Sudan to develop, it must invest in education.

He also says UNESCO is working with the Ministry of Education to support educational program to help improve quality of education.

Mr Salak Khalid was speaking in a forum on education in Yei River County.

South Sudanese teachers have long complained about their low salaries. Currently a teacher’s monthly salary is between 250 and 300 pounds, an amount less than $100.