At least 30,000 primary school teachers will benefit from a grant of about $21 million for the next one and a half years, the Minister of General Education has announced.

Mr Deng Deng Hoc made the statement during the closing session of the Joint Education Sector Annual Review in Juba on Friday.

He says the funds were granted to the ministry by the European Union.

“Kiss of life”

Mr Hoc says the money will be given as inducements to the primary school teachers across the country.

“[We] will pay incentives to over 30,000 primary school teachers, over a period of 18 months,” he said.

“This is a kiss of life, a kiss of life for many teachers.”

Teachers across the country have been complaining of the pay, saying it’s too little to cover their needs; others leave the profession due to lack good payment.

“But I want to say in this podium that the teachers will be able to afford the basic needs,” he added.