The Central Equatoria State Ministry of General Education says it is considering recruiting volunteer teachers who have been working in public schools, citing their commitment and service to communities.

State Minister of General Education and Instruction Lupai Satimon Andrew said economic hardship has pushed many qualified teachers to leave public schools for better-paying opportunities in private institutions and organizations.

He said the departure of teachers has left many government schools depending heavily on volunteers to continue providing education.

“Because of the economic situation that all of us know, majority of the teachers, or most of the teachers, have left our schools for better jobs. They are either with NGOs or with private schools, leaving our schools with mostly volunteers,” Lupai said this during launch of school-based issuance of nationality identify cards to student candidates in Juba on Tuesday.

The minister said the government is now considering absorbing some of the volunteers into the teaching workforce because of their dedication and willingness to serve.

“Those volunteers that have volunteered to teach our children, we are in the process of considering them for recruitment, because they have shown us that they are committed, they are ready to serve their nation,” he said.

Lupai added that recruiting the volunteers would recognize their contribution to keeping public schools operational.

“Since you have committed yourself to serve our people and being patriotic, now we need to bring you in and recruit you to confirm you to be a teacher,” he said.

Teachers in South Sudan have repeatedly raised concerns over low and delayed salaries, with many leaving public schools in search of alternative employment.