Terekeka girls lag behind boys in school enrolment: official

The Commissioner of Terekeka County, George Wani Elia, has called for support increasing girls’ enrolment in school compared to their male counterparts whose enrolment is high.
The primary school girls sit for primary leaving examination in Juba in 2024 (Photo by Jenifer James)

By Jenifer James

The Commissioner of Terekeka County, George Wani Elia, has called for support increasing girls’ enrolment in school compared to their male counterparts whose enrolment is high.

“Education is the backbone of development, while our nation is recovering from the effects of war, we must now prioritize building a strong foundation for our future, and that begins with education,” said Wani during the annual Mundari cultural festive held last week in Terekeka County.

 Wani highlighted that the country’s progress depends on the empowerment and education of all its citizens, and expressed concern over the lack of educational opportunities for girls in the Mundari community.

 He emphasized that the potential of Mundari girls is often overlooked.

“Girls are not just meant for marriage. They (girls) have a vital role to play in the development of our society. When we educate our girls, we are investing in the future leaders and innovators of our country,” said Wani.

 “We have seen how girls from other regions, when given the opportunity to study, excel and uplift their communities. We must ensure the same for our daughters here in Terekeka County,” he added.

Wani called on both the government and the community to work together to address the issue, adding that educating girls is a collective responsibility.

“We need to create an environment where every girl has access to quality education, which will help fight illiteracy and break the cycle of poverty in our county,” he disclosed.

“Let us unite in our efforts to build schools, train teachers, and provide resources for our children, especially our girls,” said Wani who emphasized that education is the path to peace, progress, and prosperity for Terekeka County and the entire nation.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Women’s Association in Terekaka County of Central Equatoria State, Asunta Paul Loku, said lack of access to education and child marriage are the most challenging issues girls grapple with in the County.

“We need schools to open the eyes of our community not to marry off their girls at an early age, since education is the key for nation development,” said Loku.

A sizable number of girls in Terekeka are not in school despite President Salva Kiir Mayardit declaring free and compulsory education for all children in 2023.

According to UNICEF, more than 2.8 million children, or over 70%, are out of school in South Sudan, putting at risk their futures and the future of the country.

Some of the out-of-school children are living in pastoral communities, moving with their cattle, and are not able to attend regular classes. 

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