18/07/2025
BREAKING: Amoth Primary School Closed Amid Financial Misconduct Allegations and Leadership Disputes
Amoth Primary School, located in Alek South Payam of Gogrial West County, has been temporarily shut down due to intensifying internal conflicts and serious accusations of financial mismanagement involving the school’s top officials.
Headmaster Peter Ater Manut, along with other senior staff members, has been implicated in a dispute over the misuse of school funds amounting to 25,645,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP). The disputed funds comprise student tuition, registration fees, and exam charges collected since the start of the 2025 school year.
According to Simon Majok Nyang, the Education Supervisor for Alek South Payam, the controversy began in May 2025 when volunteer and part-time teachers voiced frustration over unpaid transport and allowance stipends—benefits traditionally provided by the administration. Their concerns triggered a confrontational meeting with the headmaster, which failed to produce a resolution.
As tensions rose, the teachers brought the issue to the Payam Administrator, Mayom, who responded by establishing an independent audit committee. The audit discovered that around 24 million SSP had been misappropriated, with 8 million SSP allegedly missing under Headmaster Manut’s supervision. He was instructed to reimburse the amount.
In retaliation, Mr. Manut called for a second audit, targeting his deputy, Monydeng Kuol Deng, and the school’s finance officer, Gabriel Kuc Giir, claiming he was being unfairly blamed. This counteraction deepened the leadership rift, resulting in administrative paralysis.
The situation escalated further when the Payam Administrator ordered Manut’s temporary detention at Alek South Payam Police Station. He was held for two days before being released to consult with his team on recovering the lost funds. However, continued delays and a lack of resolution led the teachers to halt all teaching activities indefinitely.
Meanwhile, students upset by the school’s closure have reportedly begun staging protests, urging both local leaders and the wider community to intervene and restore normalcy to their education.
As of now, the Warrap State Ministry of General Education has not issued any formal response regarding the school’s closure or the allegations under investigation.
