By Ijoo Bosco
Newly appointed Caretaker Minister of General Education, Youth, and Culture, Ibwaha Lucy Allam has placed the welfare of education workers and the stability of schools at the centre of her priorities, as Eastern Equatoria prepares for upcoming elections.
Allam, who recently assumed office, said addressing complaints over unpaid or inadequate salaries would be among her first tasks as she seeks to understand the challenges facing ministry staff and assess the state of the education sector.
“One of the things I will do first of all is to look into the complaints from my staff about their salaries,” Allam said.
She said she would first consult directors-general and other senior ministry officials to establish the status of key programs and determine where the previous administration left off before taking further action.
The salary crisis comes as the minister faces the broader challenge of keeping schools functioning and ensuring students remain focused on their education during a politically sensitive period.
Allam said she was concerned by seeing students moving around Torit rather than being fully engaged in their studies, warning that schools and learners should be protected from political and social disruptions as the state approaches elections.
“We need to settle down and see exactly what we can do, especially for the schools, our children, and our students,” she said.
The minister also urged education workers to remain committed to their responsibilities despite difficulties surrounding their salaries.
She pledged to work with ministry staff to address their concerns and improve their working conditions.
“We will work hand in hand with them. I will try my best to make sure they have something and that they remain committed. This is the right time for them to be committed,” Allam said.
Beyond salaries and school stability, Allam said she would investigate concerns that students from Eastern Equatoria are receiving limited access to scholarship opportunities available to South Sudanese students.
She said she plans to engage officials in Juba and those responsible for scholarships in the state to determine why students from Eastern Equatoria may be missing out.
“I will call the people here who are concerned about the scholarship to tell me exactly why Eastern Equatoria State is isolated, and they are not getting the scholarships. What is the reason?” she said.
Allam’s early priorities signal an attempt to stabilise the education sector by addressing staff welfare, keeping schools operational, and improving access to opportunities for students.
Her tenure begins with pressure to deliver practical improvements in a sector facing salary concerns, disruption risks, and questions over equitable access to scholarships.