According to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from attack, population displacement, continued abduction of children & women, COVID-19 restrictions and mandatory closure of schools for fourteen (14) months had further threatened education in South Sudan. I work for the GPE Secretariat March 25, 2023 marks the 10th anniversary since Chinese President Xi Jinping made the four-point proposal in Africa. When children are out of school for prolonged periods of time, their exposure to physical, emotional and sexual violence increases. These include violence, exploitation and abuse (and) recruitment by armed groups, still going on, psychosocial distress and family separation. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. I am excited to hear schools will reopen and soon we shall get to reunite with friends and teachers to learn . Questionnaire - SSEC School Level assessment. For more information about UNICEF and its work in South Sudanvisit:www.unicef.org/southsudan, Follow UNICEF South Sudan onTwitter,Facebook,Instagramand YouTube, UNICEF and WFP Reaffirm Support for Free Primary Education in South Sudan, UNICEF works with national and State health ministries, partners, and community health workers to ensure all eligible persons are vaccinated, What it takes UNICEF and education partners to preserve career aspirations for school children across South Sudan, A path to improved education in South Sudan, Time has come to reopen schools in South Sudan. Yet, it is critical to balance the overwhelmingly damaging effects of school closures on children with the need to control the spread of COVID-19. Parents are also thrilled to see their children returning to school. To build forward better, Save the Children and partners ensure equal opportunities for learners as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed and normalcy resumes includes COVID-19 recovery for children, safe learning at education centers, scaling up and adapting financing which calls for urgent filling of the education [financing] gaps, and focusing on equity and child participation. The children are the future of the country. By Deng Machol Juba - On Thursday, the Government of Norway has provided NOK 90 million [$10 million] to support a safe return to school for children in restive South Sudan. In the face of this unprecedented public health crisis, it is true that families, communities and governments are averse to making any call that might bring harm to children. There were tears of joy at OR Tambo International Airport today following the return of 52 South . SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, Cat II Intergovernmental meeting, other than international conference of States, SDG 4 Regional Steering Committee Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean. There is only one functional teacher training college in the country to meet the demand for training teachers. Save the Children, partners and the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs express commitment to keep schools safe and urged all parties to the armed conflict to refrain from actions that impede childrens access to education. I am excited to hear schools will reopen and soon we shall get to reunite with friends and teachers to learn more," Lawrence said. Other. Nation-wide Assessment Dataset - SSEC - 2017-11. September 24, 2020. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of CEF, Chol Gai appreciated the Ministry of Defense, Interior and partners for committing to the document. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, Vice President in charge of Service . I work for a research organization As we move ahead it is important to remember how the closure of schools has severely impacted on the well being of children and on the country, and to avoid any new school closures in the future. People must be able to earn a living. Ms. Awut further revealed that the reopening of schools came after the Girls' Education South Sudan (GESS), an education program, and the Global Partnership for Education, a partnership and funding platform that aims to strengthen education systems in developing countries, provided funds to enable distribution of water sanitation and hygiene . "To ensure what is in the book is understood and put into practice for the sake of our children, dedicated individuals must be tasked to disseminate the guidelines [and] communities need to be included in the safe school campaigns because, during floods, schools are often occupied by the affected communities," she stressed. Noel Kana is one of them, "I am happy to hear that schools will reopen because being idle is not suitable for learners. Describing the joy felt by children and aid workers as classrooms reopened on Monday after more than 14 months of COVID-19 restrictions, Mads Oyen, UNICEFs chief of field operations, explained that going back to school was about more than just learning. Find the latest Ideas, Multimedia content, Free courses, publications and reports. We are seeing most sectors gradually reopen, except the education sector. Despite the welcome development, the UNICEF official noted that many children had not been able to return to class, their future development held up by a chronic humanitarian emergency, fuelled by ongoing violence and climate shocks. Nathalina Samuel is happy that her seven children can resume their education. Students and pupils learn different things in contrast to what is taught in schools as they are not keen to revise their books; only the reopening of schools can make everything better, and the learning process will resume smoothly.. Accelerated learning: the key to COVID catch-up? The longer children are out of school, the harder it is to get them back. See more. Minister of General Education and Instructions Awut Deng Achuil during the reopening of schools launch May 3rd. Schools protect learners from harmful cultural practices and work as an access point for services including water, sanitation and hygiene and food. The guidelines are meant to protect schools from military use during and after armed conflicts. "Overstaying at home is embarrassing us and erasing away the . Learn about employment opportunities across the UN in South Sudan. These incidents cumulatively affected more than 90,000 children. However, stakeholders including the government representatives were briefed. Lawrence Mathew (15), a senior three student says also he has been struggling; "We have been out of school and idle at home for over a year, sometimes we revise our past lessons, but we are losing hope that our classes will reopen.". Groundwater, making the invisible visible. The funds will ensure as many children as possible are returning to school in the 2020-2021 academic year. May 4, 2021. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. On that day the Vice-President of South Sudan, and the Minister of General Education and Instruction rang the bell in Juba Boys Primary School. South Sudans Information minister Michael Makuei told The East African that the decision had been arrived at after a comprehensive study by the National Taskforce on Covid-19. She outlined activities that would curtail the disruption of learning during times of armed conflicts such as "risk-mapping, risk-reduction plans, the formation and training of childrens clubs, community outreach, and legal reviews.". However, the vast majority of children, if infected, display mild symptoms and recover well. When girls remain out of school they are at higher risks of sexual exploitation and abuse, including child marriage. Both pupils and students were so happy celebrating school re-opening after lifting the lockdown, Your email address will not be published. In South Sudan, schools provide more than just academics. These services range from maternal and child health, including the screening of under-fives to detect malnutrition, sexual and reproductive health services and testing and treatment for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. The GPEII program financed by the US$41.7 million grant is designed to ensure that by the end of 2023, the number of boys and girls who are out of school in target areas decreases by 15%, while ensuring an increased equitable access to quality education through working closely with other programs. Seeing children at home idle is having a profound negative effect on children, especially girls that are being married off at a tender age," says Nathalina Samuel, a mother of seven children. "I can't wait to get the results and join the university. An Indonesian citizen evacuated from Sudan sits in a bus after she arrives at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, April 28, 2023. In the past year, we have learned the hard way that when some people dont have access to health services, everyone can be at risk.. Several UN agencies, Embassies as well as education actors were represented at the event. The Declaration is expected to also protect students, teachers, schools, and other learning institutions from some of the worst effects of armed conflicts. Phase 1 includes the candidate classes, Primary 8 and Senior 4, and will start the first week of October 2020. The guidelines to be followed will be issued by the concerned ministries.. In fact, there is no known evidence on the correlation between the rate of disease transmission and whether or not schools remain open or closed. Major General Chol Diar disclosed at today's function that such orders have already been issued for schools recently occupied by armed groups -especially in Western Equatoria state to be vacated and the forces organized. The family noise meant she had to study at a neighbour's house or wait until the nighttime snoring stoppedbefore she could open her books. UNICEF is committed to working with the ministry of education to ensure learning continues in the country. The long-term impact of extending the school lockdown risks ever greater harm to children, their future and their communities. The whole school erupted into hugging, cheering, and overall joy, knowing that they can join the university and get their degrees. The Ministry of General Education and Instruction, UN and other education partners launched a distance learning programme through radio providing lessons twice a day as a way for children to continue learning and to stay engaged while home to prevent some of the adverse effects we saw. Schools finally reopened their doors after more than 14 months of closures because of COVID-19. The province is the largest recipient of the nutrition programme in South Africa, with a budget of more than R2 billion to cater for about 2.4 million learners across 5 400 . Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, vice president in charge of service cluster, said the decision came in the wake of the recent drop in COVID-19 infections since March. South Sudan Deputy Inspector General of Police, who also represented the Minister of Interior at the launch of the document described it as a "great document if implemented. Monday 1 May 2023 - 6:45am. This is a great day for children in South Sudan who can soon resume their learning and continue planning for their future. However, candidate classes were allowed to sit their national examinations. To addresses schoolchildren's food and nutritional requirements during the COVID-19 crisis, WFP is currently providing take-home rations in lieu of the in . Children are safer inside the school walls than outside. Salaam Bright Academy is one of the schools under Salaam Schools South Sudan. Health is not a luxury, its a right and a necessity. The Safe Schools Declaration is, therefore, an inter-governmental political commitment that provides countries the opportunity to express support for protecting students, teachers, schools, and universities from attack during times of armed conflict; the importance of the continuation of education during armed conflict; and the implementation of concrete measures to deter the military use of schools, The Ministry of General Education and Instruction, and Charity and Empowerment Foundation (CEF), with support from Save the Children International developed the guidelines to facilitate the dissemination of the guidelines of the Declaration incorporated into the South Sudan People Defense Forces (SSPDF) code of conduct. All military members are unconditionally prohibited from occupying schools, interfering with, or disrupting school classes or activities, or using school facilities for any purpose," Angelina said in her directives. Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out, western media have been demanding in their reports that "Africa should be silent no more." Dreaming of World Peace - Anglicanism.org, Pan African Visions POWERED BY BRANDFOLD DIGITAL, Registration Opens for 2020 Afreximbank Annual Meetings, Amnesty International To File For Arrest Of Bishop Obinim For Stomping Pregnant Womans Belly, Newly Registered Collecting Society Seeks To Empower Zimbabwes Performing Artists, Tackling one of the Worlds Highest Teenage Pregnancy Rates, to Give Girls a Better Future, Merck foundation together with First Lady of Mozambique announce Stay at Home Media Recognition Awards. There are reports of children having been engaged in child labour, children roaming the markets looking for work and opportunities, children joining gangs and engaged in crime and substance abuse. Join us and leave your mark ! I work for a civil society organization Phase 1 includes the candidate classes, Primary 8 and Senior 4, and will start the first week of October 2020. At school, students learn social and emotional skills and it's a safe place for the most vulnerable. JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN 22 SEPTEMBER 2020 - UNICEF and UNESCO welcome the decision of the Government to start reopening of schools in South Sudan. And we know this has not been a short period; fourteen months of children being out of school are long, said Ms. Hamida. As the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, the re-opening of schools is a difficult topic to consider. This should lead to a robust plan for ensuring all children receive a quality education, Rama Hansraj underscored. Sadly, on these fronts, the evidence is overwhelming. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. I understand that parents might be nervous, but I urge all caregivers to trust that their children are safer at school. "The exams were fair, not hard, not easy, but it was fair. The Honourable Minister of General Education and Instruction, Awut Deng Acuil . South Sudan, the UN's youngest Member State, is marking its tenth anniversary of independence amid languishing political progress and a range of humanitarian challenges, the Secretary-General's Special Representative told Security Council members on Monday. This time, we worked so hard to complete the syllabus, thanks to our amazing teachers.". Scientific evidence shows children are not super spreaders of COVID-19 and are the least affected by it in the region, with a mere 2.5 per cent of COVID-19 cases among children of school going age (5-18 years, WHO). protection of civilian (PoC) and ad hoc IDP sites (South Sudan Education Cluster, n.d.), while also working to reopen schools in areas where the security situation had stabilized. ", During the launch of the guidelines, the Undersecretary Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs read their commitment to the document as written by the Minister of Defense, Angelina Teny, "We shall ensure the concerned units within Ministry of Defense are instructed to start the process of observing the safe school guidelines," Major General Chol Diar Ngang pledged. The Director of the La Salle School of Rumbek, Brother Joseph Alak, recently told Vatican News about what this school of 153 boys, aged 14 to 16, means to the people in post-war South Sudan. Schools. A joint assessment on the out-of-school children should be conducted involving all stakeholders including civil society. Last update: 21 April 2022. On the same event, UNICEF Country representative Hamida Lasseko appreciated the government commitment allowing access to education; while urging the ministry and parents to prioritize children. "We are here to declare our commitment to practice the safe school declaration," said Vice President Ayii after handing over copies of the guidelines. Lawrence Mathew (15), a senior three studentsays also he has been struggling;"We have been out of school and idle at home for over a year, sometimes we revise our past lessons, but we are losing hope that our classes will reopen.". (Its) about controlling malaria, its about controllingany measles outbreaks, its about providing clean water to kids, he explained, before highlighting the multiple risks that children face. We know that children are the least directly affected by Covid-19, are less prone to fall ill from it and are much less likely to spread the disease. Both Wendy and Daniel made it through the lessons and were part of the scenes of joy and relief after the last exam was done. 6,385 Views. Copyright 2023 United Nations in South Sudan, Caption: Bell ringing ceremony to mark the reopening of schools after 14 months closure due to COVID-19. "It is important to evacuate any premises and institution of learning occupied by armed groups to be evacuated now and not tomorrow," His Excellency Ayii directed. Yes, children are at risk of infection, and yes, that is terrifying for parents. To better monitor, prevent, and end these attacks, the United Nations Security Council has identified and condemnedsix grave violations against children in times of war: Killing and maiming of children; recruitment or use of children in armed forces and armed groups; attacks on schools or hospitals; rape or other grave sexual violence; abduction of children; and denial of humanitarian access for children. Now, its time for Lawrence and the rest of the children to return to school. Makuei also said restrictions on working hours had been lifted and that offices will open from 8am to 5pm beginning next week. School reopened on Monday in South Sudan after closure for more than one year due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). "I am happy that schools are going to reopen. We would also like to take the opportunity to thank the education partners who have supported the distant learning programme in this difficult time, and especially the EU/ECHO, the Government of Norway, UKAid and USAID. "To save education, we need to stop the violence, allocate enough budget for education, provide free learning materials, expand adult education and allow all children to complete at least free primary and secondary education. However, catching up on seven months of lost education and preparingfor the biggest exam of our liveswas stressful. The Safe School Declaration has been developed in the form of Schools as "Zones of Peace.". CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. The warning comes ahead of the upcoming rainy season, whichbrings with it a higher risk of cholera, malaria and respiratory infections. Noel Kana is one of them, "I am happy to hear that schools will reopen because being idle is not suitable for learners. Makuei said that the report observed that the level of infection has reduced and there have been no more cases in the last few weeks., After that study, it was decided that schools and higher learning institutions should re-open at times to be fixed by the General and Higher Education ministries. Mobilizing community and advocating for enrolling more girls. They are more vulnerable to child labor and less likely to break out of the cycle of poverty. Launch of the project "Boosting digital competencies of teachers in Chile". A joint statement by UNICEF and UNESCO argued that children and schools were not the predominant drivers of the spread of the pandemic. Schools are safe places for children where they are protected from exploitation, abuse and from harmful cultural practices such as child marriage and early pregnancies. Students return to school in Juba, South Sudan, after more than fourteen months of COVID-19 restrictions. But the countrywide reopening of schools in May 2021 is an opportunity to secure the future of children in South Sudan. Juba, South Sudan, After 14 months, schools in South Sudan reopen, Welcome to the United Nations country team website of South Sudan. Sources say the reopening of schools could be . Essential health services are provided in former UN Protection of Civilian sites, host communities as well as remote and hard-to-reach locations serviced by the IOMs mobile rapid response teams. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, Vice President in charge of service cluster, said the decision came in the wake of the recent drop in COVID-19 infections since March. Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace. Discover UNESCO's impact around the world and the organisation's endeavour to build durable peace. These include handwashing, stations, WASH supplies, thermometers, reusable masks, and menstrual hygiene management kits. Government has finally announced the reopening of the schools and all the pupils & students will be notified in due time. At school, students learn social and emotional skills and it'sa safe place for the most vulnerable. 12 African cities vying for the most culturally vibrant on the continent. It was good enough for us to finish," Daniel Athien (17), a senior 4 student,joyfully expressed after putting down his pencil. The longer children stay out of school, the harder it is to get them back to the classrooms. The current reopening plan will cost just under USD 16.4 million, while only USD 7 million is available through the Global Partnership for Education. I believe we are going to excel in the exams, and I am glad we have made it," Windy says with a grin. Students tried to keep learning at home,but Wendy Ahonda (16)explains it was no easy feat. WFP Eastern Africa - 2022 Regional Achievements & Outlook, UNICEF South Sudan Appeal, 2023 Revision 1 (April 2023), WFP South Sudan Situation Report #310, 28 February 2023, Culture, Context and Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-Being of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons from South Sudan. Students and pupils learn different things in contrast to what is taught in schools as they are not keen to revise their books; only the reopening of schools can make everything better, and the learning process will resume smoothly.. And yet increasingly, evidence points to harm being done to children by not being in school. We dont have a school day to lose, the children have already lost so many. The handover was also officiated by Minister Awut Deng and Save the Children's Country Director, Rama Hansraj. ", "It is important for us the organized forces to disseminate the booklet," said Lieutenant-General James Pui Yak Yiel, He added that "we are committed to distributing this document and enforcing it within the armed forces since we are also the law enforcers. The Minister of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) has just announced that all schools in South Sudan will reopen on 3 May 2021.