Numerous reports speak about child marriages and early pregnancies due to girls being out of school and increased gender-based violence. We appeal to the communities and the families to have confidence and send their children back to school once it has re-opened. "COVID-19 is still with us but we have decided to reopen schools . Monday 3 May was a special day for millions of children in South Sudan. Schools allow children to access basic services including clean water, health and in many cases also food. See more. Find out what the UN in South Sudan is doing towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The printed guidelines offer direction on concrete measures that armed forces and non-state actors can take to avoid military use of educational facilities, to reduce the risks of attacks, and to mitigate the impact of attacks and military use when they occur. UNICEF has been one of many strong advocates for the reopening of schools. We applaud for the plan of the Ministry of General Education and Instruction to gradually reopen schools in the coming weeks and encourage the National COVID-19 Taskforce to support the plan. The guidelines are meant to protect schools from military use during and after armed conflicts. Schools across the country were frequently closed due to fighting and the threat of violence, and hundreds of schools and other civilian assets were looted and destroyed. I work for a government agency You can sense the jubilation at Development Secondary School in Juba as senior four students braced the blistering heat to celebrate the completion of their secondary school examinations. However, catching up on seven months of lost education and preparingfor the biggest exam of our liveswas stressful. May 3, 2021. "The exams were fair, not hard, not easy, but it was fair. Unfortunately, some of them were going through many difficulties and challenges, as we all know. The Sisters of Loreto already have Loreto Rumbek, which comprises a primary school, a secondary school and a primary health care unit. 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 supplies, thermometers, reusable masks and menstrual hygiene management kits. Before COVID-19, South Sudans health system was already heavily dependent on humanitarian actors who now face worrying funding shortfalls, IOM said, inan appealfor $744,175 per month to continue providing life-saving care. Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005 Convention), Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM Report), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNEVOC), Observatory on Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, Report on Public Access to Information (SDG 16.10.2) 2021, Reshaping Policies for Creativity - 2022 Report, UNESCO Director-General's Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity 2020, UNESCO Director-General's Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity 2022, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC), UNESCO's International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development - Global Report 2021-2022. In South Sudan, schools provide more than just academics. 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. Established in 2002, the GEM Report is an editorially independent report, hosted and published by UNESCO. 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. However, candidate classes were allowed to sit their national examinations. 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. "I am happy that schools are going to reopen. Even the teachers are ready to go back to work. I work in academia 12 African cities vying for the most culturally vibrant on the continent. Schools protect learners from harmful cultural practices and work as an access point for services including water, sanitation and hygiene and food. Scholar: Africa is not a pawn. There is only one functional teacher training college in the country to meet the demand for training teachers. As schools have now resumed, it is important to monitor how many children effectively returned to the education facilities. It is against this background that we encourage the authorities of South Sudan, as well as communities, parents, and teachers to employ the same agility and urgency to safely reopen schools. The year of 2022 witnessed a landmark setback for U.S. human rights, a report on human rights violations in the United States issued by https://www.youtube.com/embed/aTJzV7uBPJo 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 . United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Launch of the project "Boosting digital competencies of teachers in Chile". He also acknowledged the importance of monitoring and reporting grave violations against children in armed conflicts as per the UN Security Council resolution. UNICEF country representative in South Sudan, Dr. Hamida Lasseko, also speaking at the same event reiterated UNICEFs commitment to continue supporting the education sector in South Sudan. How fast are countries transforming their education? Meet Aridja and Salawa Emmanuel who continue learning despite crises, Freetown manifesto for gender transformative leadership in education, General Education Strategic Plan (GESP), 2017-2022, Supporting schools and communities to bring out-of-school children back to school, Mapping out-of-school children and carrying out a school infrastructure audit, Constructing and rehabilitating 2,400 learning spaces. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. 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. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. UNDP Compound, Ministries Road At school, students learn social and emotional skills and it's a safe place for the most vulnerable. 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. Public access to information is a key component of UNESCO's commitment to transparency and its accountability. I am very excited to enrol for my bachelor's degree in logistics studies; it is so appealing.". Since most of those occupying the schools are armed forces, the Ministry of Defense as a key stakeholder was encouraged to commit themselves to the document. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. This is especially true for girls. 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. Our knowledge is improving daily to ensure safety in reopening schools. School reopened on Monday in South Sudan after closure for more than one year due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). School reopened Monday in South Sudan after closure for more than one year due to COVID-19 pandemic. Allowing learning to take place and protection of children during learning in South Sudan is [paramount]," VP Ayii asserted. Pupils attend a class at Spire Road Primary School in Jinja on March 1. She caution students to keenly observed health prevention measures in class. We dont have a school day to lose, the children have already lost so many. Students, teachers and parents look ahead as senior 4 exams finish. (END). 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. "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. The handover was also officiated by Minister Awut Deng and Save the Children's Country Director, Rama Hansraj. 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. This is a great day for children in South Sudan who can soon resume their learning and continue planning for their future. Questionnaire - SSEC School Level assessment. 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. Copies were also given to the Ministry of Justice. I work for the GPE Secretariat I appreciate the day today that they have opened our school and we are really happy. Describing the "joy" felt by children and aid workers as classrooms reopened on Monday after more than 14 months of COVID . Emotions of joy and relief ran high at OR Tambo International Airport, as family, friends and . This should lead to a robust plan for ensuring all children receive a quality education, Rama Hansraj underscored. Children are safer inside the school walls than outside. In South Sudan, about 3 in 5 children are not in school. The funds will ensure as many children as possible are returning to school in the 2020-2021 academic year. The longer children stay out of school, the harder it is to get them back to the classrooms. These incidents cumulatively affected more than 90,000 children. The reopening will happen in phases. The Minister of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) has just announced that all schools in South Sudan will reopen on 3 May 2021. 165. To counter disruptions in education caused by COVID-19, UNMISS peacekeepers from Mongolia hand over school materials for displaced children in Bentiu. Lifelong learning is key to overcoming global challenges and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Makuei also said restrictions on working hours had been lifted and that offices will open from 8am to 5pm beginning next week. "When schools reopen, we will notice a reduced number of female students, she says with sadness in her eyes. The following three years of the GESP are focused on institutionalizing teacher training, school supervision, and expansion of secondary and technical education. There are many ways to take action with UNESCO -everyone can make a difference. "I can't wait to get the results and join the university. 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. 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. Join us and leave your mark ! With the closures of schools an additional 2 million children were out of school. Before the pandemic, 2.8 million children were out of school due to poverty, inequalities, cultural beliefs and nomadic lifestyles. And the risks for them of keeping schools closed outweigh the health risks caused by the pandemic. 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. This builds on 11 years of Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF) support to national education coalitions for their engagement in education sector policy dialogue. We are calling on to the teachers to welcome their pupils back in their classes. September 12, 2020. People must be able to earn a living. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj, South Sudan launches school reopening across the country. However, stakeholders including the government representatives were briefed. I believe we are going to excel in the exams, and I am glad we have made it," Windy says with a grin. 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. "The exams were fair, not hard, not easy, but it was fair. To recovery and beyond:The report takes stock of the global progress on the adoption and implementation of legal guarantees on Access to Informati, Addressing culture as a global public good. 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.. SOUTH SUDAN Consolidated Emergency Report 2021 March 2022 A family in Bentiu, Unity State, transports their belongings after severe flooding made road travel impossible . 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. . March 25, 2023 marks the 10th anniversary since Chinese President Xi Jinping made the four-point proposal in Africa. Based on human rights and fundamental freedoms, the 2005 Convention ultimately providesa new framework for informed, transparent and parti, UNESCOs e-Platform on intercultural dialogue is designed for organizations and individuals to learn from shared knowledge or experiences from infl. The Minister of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) has just announced that all schools in South Sudan will reopen on 3 May 2021. ", This was the message delivered to the government and armed groups by school children during the official launch of the 'Safe School Declaration' guideline in Juba on Monday 25, 2021. The whole school erupted into hugging, cheering, and overalljoy, knowing that they can join the university and get their degrees. 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. They are more vulnerable to child labor and less likely to break out of the cycle of poverty. 2023 Global Partnership for Education. . Usually, we look forward to the holidays, but suddenly our holiday became so long," Wendy said. The Minister of General Education and Instructions, Awut Deng Achuil reaffirmed her commitment to protecting schools and protecting children. Education partners were alarmed by children who dropped out of schools, primarily teenagers who got marriages during lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, children are at risk of infection, and yes, that is terrifying for parents. UNICEF is committed to working with the ministry of education to ensure learning continues in the country. 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. The last seven months have been a huge blow for learning but also for protecting children from abuse and exploitation; therefore, we are really pleased with the Governments decision to reopen schools. The Minister of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) has just announced that all schools in South Sudan will reopen on 3 May 2021. "This year is unique; I am proud of all candidates who never experienced school closures before, and despite the pandemic and crazy things happening, reading for exams in a short time. May 4, 2021. Happy and excited, students jumped with joy after dusting the last examination paper- the day they have been looking forward to for four years is finally over. The Minister of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) has just announced that all schools in South Sudan will reopen on 3 May 2021. But the countrywide reopening of schools in May 2021 is an opportunity to secure the future of children in South Sudan. I work for an international organization We applaud for the plan of the Ministry of General Education and Instruction to gradually reopen schools in the coming weeks and encourage the National COVID-19 Taskforce to support the plan. Phase 1 includes the candidate classes, Primary 8 and Senior 4, and will start the first week of October 2020. UNICEF is working with the Ministry of General Education and Instructionto prepare schools for the reopening and we are excited to note that this year will be the first with the new South Sudan curriculum. There are 400,000 children out of school due to chronic insecurity and displacement, while another 13,000 are absorbed in the country's . The students and the teachers will also be provided with washable face masks. Schools are places for children to be safe and to be protected and also to access basic services, school feeding and so on.. 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. Schools in South Sudan were shut down for 14 months to prevent the spread of COVID-19. On April 21, 2021, Save the Children in collaboration with national partner CEF lobbied the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs to express political commitment to advance the principles of safe school declaration by unconditionally prohibiting the military from occupying schools, "There is a need to domesticate the Safe School Declaration," Rama said. But capacity building efforts of the government have been interrupted by conflict. South Sudan's 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. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. Verified 5 days ago. 8 Facts about Education in South Sudan - The Borgen . 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 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. Learn about employment opportunities across the UN in South Sudan. Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace. OCHA coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, Vice President in charge of Service . When girls remain out of school they are at higher risks of sexual exploitation and abuse, including child marriage. There has already been a near-doubling of outpatient admissions in the last weeks, likely from malaria infections or reinfections, Mr Oyens said. It was good enough for us to finish," Daniel Athien (17), a senior 4 student, joyfully expressed after putting down his pencil. Candidate classes Primary 8 and Senior 4 returned to school for a 6 day/week programme that will see them work towards examinations in February 2021 and March 2021, respectively. Sadly, on these fronts, the evidence is overwhelming. Government has finally announced the reopening of the schools and all the pupils & students will be notified in due time. Noel Kana is one of them, "I am happy to hear that schools will reopen because being idle is not suitable for learners. UNICEF and UNESCO are urging donors and partners to step forward to support the reopening of schools in South Sudan. Despite conflicting opinions on the question, theres no mistaking the strong, almost visceral response shared by all: there is a need to protect the young from the risk of harm brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Schools reopening date set to be decided today. She called for wider collaborations among actors to create a conducive environment for learning in South Sudan. "When schools reopen, we will notice a reduced number of female students, she says with sadness in her eyes. With the closure of schools, from one day to another, the number of out of school children in South Sudan had almost doubled. UNESCO is the United Nations Laboratory of Ideas. We now know more about children and COVID-19 than we did before. SSEC- Report After Action Review of School Feeding (South Sudan Humanitarian Fund-SA 1) Questionnaire - IRNA Education Chapter. "I am happy that right now, we can study again. During a validation workshop of the Safe Declaration guidelines, representatives of armed forces and civilians were identified to be occupants of the schools in South Sudan. The basics of the sector administration and management are rudimentary, which started to develop, along with the rest of the civil service in the country, only after the 2005 Peace Agreement. However, schools are closed until September, as one of the measures to halt the spread of COVID-19. By John Garang Ayii Riak, Juba, South Sudan. UNICEF has committed funds and support to the education ministry to distribute equipment allowing schools to adhere to the Covid-19 preventive measures. Juba School has reopened in East Africas youngest nation after closure for more than one year, despite the third surge of COVID-19 pandemic. We are seeing most sectors gradually reopen, except the education sector. In a related development, the International Organization for Migration (IOM)warnedon Tuesday that life-saving healthcare for more than 800,000 South Sudanese, may have to be cut if funding is not found urgently. Health is not a luxury, its a right and a necessity. I am very happy that schools have opened and we have returned to school and now we are very happy because of this school opening, Jackline Kizito said. 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 . In July, a number of international aid organisations urged the government to reopen schools warning that children face a number of perils while away from classrooms. Monday 3 May was a special day for millions of children in South Sudan. For almost 75 years,the UNESCO Courierhas served as a platform for international debates on issues that concern the entire planet. Beijing ICP prepared NO.16065310-3. A lot of the girls who got pregnant or were married off will most likely never return. Other. Juba, South Sudan, After 14 months, schools in South Sudan reopen, Welcome to the United Nations country team website of South Sudan. The reopening will happen in phases. Together with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, UNICEF, UNESCO and education partners have made a plan for a safe reopening of schools. Details: WebIn South Sudan, 51 percent of children are out of school. UNICEF successfully advocated for the reopening of schools after 14 months of closure due to COVID-19 measures, and supported schools to resume functioning. Students return to school in Juba, South Sudan, after more than fourteen months of COVID-19 restrictions. The plan includes improved water provision to schools, repair of water infrastructure, soap distribution, handwashing stations and sanitary kits. "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. 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. Phase 2 includes all schools and grades and will coincide with the . 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. . 6,385 Views. 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. The long-term impact of extending the school lockdown risks ever greater harm to children, their future and their communities. A lot happened to children when they were at home. The pandemic has left the most vulnerable and marginalized even further off track when it comes to access to quality education. Even the teachers are ready to go back to work. Bells are ringingin #southsudan to mark the reopening of schools. 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. Nathalina Samuel is happy that her seven children can resume their education. Noel Kana is one of them, "I am happy to hear that schools will reopen because being idle is not suitable for learners.
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