Clergy ask government to create enabling learning environment for children

By Awan Achiek

The Anglican Primate of South Sudan, Dr. Justin Badi Arama, has called on the government to create an enabling environment for school-going children to enjoy their right to education.

While addressing bishops during the 12th Provincial Standing Committee Meeting in Juba on Wednesday, Dr. Arama said creating conducive environment for children is very necessary for their development.

“We continue to appeal to our government that there should be peace and stability in all villages across South Sudan, to enable the children who are under trees and in all parts to be able to find a peaceful environment to continue with their education,” he said.

Arama emphasized the importance of peace and stability to enable children to learn.

“Currently in ECSS, we do have 212 primary schools all over the country and 25 secondary schools of which if it was not the support of the government we wouldn’t be running them in this difficult time,” he disclosed.

More than 2.8 million children, or over 70 per cent, are out of school in South Sudan, putting at risk their futures and the future of the country, according to U.N. Children’s Fund.

In South Sudan, there are an estimated 4.75 million school-aged children – including 472,452 internally displaced children.

The country has one of the world’s highest proportions of out-of-school children, as about 3 in 5 children have never set foot in a classroom or have dropped out.

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

Girls comprise the highest number of children out of school which are driven by poverty, child marriage and cultural barriers