The pandemic has left the most vulnerable and marginalized even further off track when it comes to access to quality education. There are 400,000 children out of school due to chronic insecurity and displacement, while another 13,000 are absorbed in the country's . United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Private and public institutions including primary, secondary, and universities, were permitted to resume learning under COVID-19 restricted measures. South Sudan had the first conference on Safe School Declaration (co-convenience meeting). I work in journalism / media The government . 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. Schools are places for children to be safe and to be protected and also to access basic services, school feeding and so on.. Their mental health deteriorates. We are reopening today and we are reopening because we have children at home. The closure ended up being a huge blow for education, but more than anything it turned into a child rights crisis. KEMPTON PARK - The last batch of South Africans who were stuck in war-ton Sudan have safely landed. War in Sudan | Evacuees back on South African soil. As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPEs Education Out Loud fund is supporting the South Sudan National Education Coalition for the 2019-2021 period. Seminar "Protection of journalists, a guarantee to defend freedom of expression", Youth committed to the education of children with disabilities, Experiences of school re-openings: 13 recommendations and lessons from various countries. The schools were shut down in March 2020 and the government reopened schools in phases with final year students allowed to attend classes in October 2020. Although South Sudan endorsed the Safe School Declaration in 2015, it has not been able to implement the guidelines fully and conduct the assessments due to lack of funds. OCHA coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. With support from GPE and UNICEF, the government of South Sudan is making progress in enrolling children against a backdrop of political instability, a struggling economy and armed conflict. JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN 22 SEPTEMBER 2020 - UNICEF and UNESCO welcome the decision of the Government to start reopening of schools in South Sudan. The program is complementary to South Sudans US$7 million COVID-19 grant. Internally displaced persons, returnees and conflict-affected populations already living in dire conditions may soon face even greater danger to their lives and health due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of the rainy season and floods, the UN agency said. United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office Parents are also thrilled to see their children returning to school. South Sudan launches school reopening across the country With the closure of schools, from one day to another, the number of out of school children in South Sudan had almost doubled. Groundwater, making the invisible visible. "I am looking forward to resuming lessons and going to school again," says 17-year-old John Gatluak who is enrolled in Eden Secondary School in Bentiu, South Sudan. As South Sudan starts reopening schools, UNMISS peacekeepers from FCDO, UK Department for International Development, US Agency for International Development, USAID, ensure an increased equitable access to quality education, South Sudan: Securing a brighter future for children affected by conflict, Ministry of General Education and Instruction, General Education Sector Plan (GESP) 2017-2022. 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. Students tried to keep learning at home,but Wendy Ahonda (16)explains it was no easy feat. I can tell you that we will work day and night as we have done before to ensure that not only about the opening of schools but sustaining these children to stay in schools and supporting all areas which involve quality and quantity when it comes to education. Phase 2 includes all schools and grades and will coincide with the . 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. Occupying school is a thing of the past. 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. And the risks for them of keeping schools closed outweigh the health risks caused by the pandemic. The first two years of the GESP are framed as a transitional plan that is expected to rapidly increase enrollment along with building new infrastructure, supplying basic teaching and learning materials, regularizing teacher salary and training teachers to cope with the increased enrollment. The countrywide reopening of schools in South Sudan is a welcome step on the road to "normalcy" for youngsters, two in three of whom need humanitarian assistance, the UN Children's Fund ( UNICEF) said on Tuesday. "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. School In South Sudan - schoolslearning.info As children in South Sudan await the re-opening of schools, WFP is mitigating against the impact of the pandemic on children's health and nutrition by providing take-home rations for 23,000 children in the most food-insecure counties. UNICEF and UNESCO welcome the decision to reopen schools in South Sudan We appeal to the communities and the families to have confidence and send their children back to school once it has re-opened. Social mobilizers will be raising awareness on the reopening of schools and encouraging parents to send their children to school. 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. Please do not stay at home anymore, come back to school, Lasseko said. I am excited to hear schools will reopen and soon we shall get to reunite with friends and teachers to learn . A joint assessment on the out-of-school children should be conducted involving all stakeholders including civil society. 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. South Sudan had more than 2,500 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including more than 45 deaths and more than 1,200 recoveries. 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. As schools have now resumed, it is important to monitor how many children effectively returned to the education facilities. Hope revived as schools reopen - South Sudan | ReliefWeb 8 Facts about Education in South Sudan - The Borgen . Photo Credit: WFP This is especially true for girls. Schools. Phase 2 includes all schools and grades and will coincide with the start of the academic year in February 2021. "COVID-19 is still with us but we have decided to reopen schools . UNICEF is working with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction to prepare schools for the reopening and we are excited to note that this year will be the first with the new South Sudan curriculum. "Overstaying at home is embarrassing us and erasing away the . 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. PDF South Sudan - Unicef "I am happy that right now, we can study again. Famine isalready onthe doorstepof millions of families in 20 countries, twoUNagencies warned on Tuesday in a reportthat callsfor urgent action to avertrising hunger due to factors such asconflict, climate extremes and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister of General Education and Instructions, Awut Deng Achuil reaffirmed her commitment to protecting schools and protecting children. March 25, 2023 marks the 10th anniversary since Chinese President Xi Jinping made the four-point proposal in Africa. Unfortunately, some of them were going through many difficulties and challenges, as we all know. My plan for the exam is to study as much as possible, keep on reading every day and hope that I am ready for the examination, said Daniel, days after returning to school. ", UNICEF representative described the launch as a great day for global advocacy initiative to ensure safe space for safe learning.. UNICEF is thankful for all the support from our trusted Education partners, including Canada, EU/ECHO, Norway, Sweden, the Global Partnership for Education, UKAID and USAID. The family noise meant she had to study at a neighbour's house or wait until the nighttime snoring stopped before she could open her books. There has already been a near-doubling of outpatient admissions in the last weeks, likely from malaria infections or reinfections, Mr Oyens said. PDF COVID-19 and female learners in South Sudan - DSPACE South Sudan: With guns silent, a school for boys arises The plan includes improved water provision to schools, repair of water infrastructure, soap distribution, handwashing stations and sanitary kits. @HamidaLasseko pic.twitter.com/owyBrZxKVd, Especially in a country like South Sudan, where were also faced with humanitarian emergencies in many parts of the country, he explained. I know you want what is best for your children, and right now that is sending them back to school. Q&A: How are African countries improving the quality of their education? And the states government should work with national ministry of General Education to develop the education sector, he added. UNICEF South Sudan and Partners Launch "Invest in Teachers, Invest in the Future" Campaign, UNICEF works with national and State health ministries, partners, and community health workers to ensure all eligible persons are vaccinated, A path to improved education in South Sudan, COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Kicks Off to Boost Coverage in South Sudan. Schools reopening date set to be decided today | Monitor The Safe School Declaration has been developed in the form of Schools as "Zones of Peace." Furthermore, South Sudan Ministry of Education policy framework has been developed and is now before the cabinet for approval. Receive daily updates directly in your inbox -, Joy in South Sudan, as schools reopen after 14-month COVID lockdown, UN reportsleap forward in regulating DNA-altering technology to benefit all, Ukraine: Oxygen shortage putting lives in danger, Gaza medics struggling to cope with influx of wounded: UN agencies, Women abducted in South Sudan released, hundreds remain missing, UN agencies call for urgent action to avert famine risk in 20 hunger hotspots. Numerous reports speak about child marriages and early pregnancies due to girls being out of school and increased gender-based violence. What you need to know about the new 2023 SDG 4 Scorecard, Mr. Mohamed Ag Ayoya, UNICEF Representative in South Sudan, Mr. Julius Banda, UNESCO Representative in South Sudan, Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs.