By Newman Anthony Levey in Bo
Work at the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) offices in Bo was disrupted for about an hour on Monday after some teachers stormed the facility in protest over delay in payment of the salaries.
The protesters say they are part of 5, 000 new teachers approved by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education in the last two years.
They say despite their approval and having been working throughout this period, they are yet to receive their first pay.
Some of them say they have worked with the system for four years.
The approval process include issuance to f PIN codes, which is the key requirement for salary payment.
Peter Ibrahim Conteh, one the aggrieved teachers who works at Haikal Academy, told Politico that despite his long service, he has always struggled to get by with his family.
"I have taught for over four years and government has given me PIN Code over one year ago, but up to now I have not received salary,” he said.
Fellow protester, Augustine Yawma, said he taught for eight years before he was given a PIN Code. He also said the Deputy Director of TSC told them that their salaries would be ready by September this year.
Mr Yawma wondered why government would give them PIN Code and not pay them until September.
"This government’s flagship program is education, and the 2020 budget catered for 5, 000 teachers. So why are we given PIN Codes and we are still not paid?” he lamented.
Regina Foyoh, another aggrieved teacher, said she was approved since January when her name was included in the payroll, yet she is yet to receive her first salary. Mrs Foyoh said her husband who teaches at the Bo School was also approved, he received salary for two months, only for his salary to suddenly stop without any explanation.
The demand for more teachers grew after the introduction of the FQE, which is the flagship programme of the administration of President Julius Maada Bio, which is a corner of his human capital development agenda.
Earlier in April this year, the government announced a 30% salary raise for teachers as part of its effort to motivate them.
But Foyoh, Yawma, Conteh and many of their colleague teachers are apparently missing out.
In response to their complaints, the Deputy Director for the TSC in Bo, Augustine G. Karim, called for calm, noting that he was on the process of verifying with the head office in Freetown.
"I have asked all those teachers who came to my office to write their names. I am trying to send their information to headquarters," he told Politico.
He added: "Normally when we give them PIN codes, they expect salaries, but when it reaches the final stage at the Accountant General's office, if they detect any problem, the salaries will not be paid.
The teachers who were present during the protest on Monday said those affected are close to a hundred. They threatened to stay at home if government decides to open schools before addressing their salary situation.
Schools in the country have been closed since March 31st this year, in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
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