Lakes State education minister reshuffles county directors
The Lakes State Minister of General Education and Instruction, Kongor Deng Kongor, has reshuffled the state’s county education directors in a bid to wipe out the brewing corruption allegations in the state.
The action came after reports of misappropriated GESS funds and the teachers’ impact payment were alleged to have been pocketed by Yirol East County Education Director, Sabino Mabor Aleng.
The ministerial order transferred Sabino to Awerial County and replaced him with the county education director of Awerial County, William Agoth Awur.
“The ministerial order shall be cited as order no.001 14 1 2022 for the transfer of county education directors. In exercise of the powers conferred upon me, under chapter (3), section (2) subsection (B) of the General Education Act 2012, read together with article 110 (1) of the transitional constitution of Lakes State 2011, I Kongor Deng Kongor, Minister of General Education and Instruction, do hereby issue this ministerial order for the transfer of county education directors, ” read the order.
Jacob Marial Rakoc was transferred from Rumbek Centre to Rumbek North, Peter Uyai Deng was transferred from Wulu County to Rumbek Centre, Enock Machouc Manyol was transferred from Cueibet County to Rumbek East County, and William Agoth Awur was transferred from Awerial County to Yirol East County.
Sabino Mabor Aleng was transferred from Yirol East County to Awerial County, Permena Majur A. Maduol was maintained in Yirol West, Peter Makuei Kocdong was transferred from Rumbek East to Cueibet County and Peter Abol Kachoul was transferred from Rumbek North to Wulu County.
Changes made
In an interview with City Review yesterday, the Payam supervisors hailed the decision by the minister, adding that they were still waiting for the new county director to report to the county.
The supervisor of Pagarau Payam, Gabriel Kuclong, was doubtful whether the investigations would be made after the external transfer. He stressed that the mess only came after Sabino was employed in the county, but never existed before.
“Many years back, there was no mess like this mess that has happened. It was during his time that this mess began in the county. They make a mess thinking that it will not be discovered, ” he said.
He stressed the need for investigations to be conducted so that the truth could be established as an example to other employees who would follow.
“We are not yet comfortable because the new director has not yet reported. We will be comfortable when he has reported. Let the investigation continue because if an investigation is not carried out, even in the coming year, this thing will still be repeated. If there is a proper investigation, the root cause will be found, then the incoming director or the other leaders who will come after will not be doing this again.”
The Tinagau Payam supervisor, Alphayo Mayor, raised the question of whether the new director would address their problem of misappropriation of funds or it has been transferred with the director to Awerial County.
“They have received their transfer letters, but he has not come to the office, I was in the office today. This transfer has been done by the higher authorities, and we the juniors, even if we are not happy, doubting, or complaining, there is no way for us to claim again,” Mayor said.
“Now the challenge is when the new director comes, we are not sure whether he will address our problems properly or not. We are also not sure whether he will solve our problems or if they have been transferred with the director to Awerial.”
The Nyang Payam supervisor, John Agur said, “I heard that the transfer has been made, and the director is refusing by saying he is sick. We are now waiting for the new county director. We like that transfer. “
Fact-finding
Kongor said he would soon investigate and establish the truth on the ground since he had transferred to the previous director and the new director would easily dig out the truth.
This came after the call for an investigation by the 14 Payam supervisors and their deputies concerning “impact payment” for teachers and GESS girls’ cash transfers that were alleged to have been chewed by Yirol East County Director.
They also claimed that the community contribution was misused by the director as well, instead of being channelled into the welfare of teachers and developmental activities in the schools.
The case
Mager Achiengwei Agou, the Lekakudu Payam Supervisor, claimed last month that the county education director, Sabino Mabor Aleng, had denied 81 teachers incentives, a round sum of SSP 1,733,400.
He also alleged that 772 girls were not paid GESS girls’ cash transfers. Mager said each girl was paid SSP 5,600, thus making a total of SSP 4,323,200.
The victims were: 60 girls from Central Payam, 106 girls from Pagarau Payam, 100 girls from Yali Payam, 69 girls from Malek Payam, 157 girls from Tinagau Payam, 160 girls from Adior Payam, and 120 girls from Lekakudu Payam, for a total of 772 girls who are not paid.
He further alleged that the county director also pocketed SSP 7.5 million community contribution to which was aimed at supporting teachers and developing schools.
In a training conducted by CINA in October 2021, Mager claimed the director trained 12 teachers, including his daughter, instead of teachers.
He further said the director collected food items including beans, maize, oil, and sorghum meant for schools, misusing SSP 405,000, and when he asked, Mager said he was suspended on December 4, 2021.
The sum of money alleged to have been misused is SSP1, 733,400 for 81 teachers, with each teacher receiving SSP21, 400.
