"The exams were fair, not hard, not easy, but it was fair. Emotions of joy and relief ran high at OR Tambo International Airport, as family, friends and . The countrywide reopening of schools in South Sudan is a welcome step on the . In 2005, the Security Council established a Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) to systematically monitor, document and report on violations committed against children in situations of concern around the world. South Sudan had the first conference on Safe School Declaration (co-convenience meeting). Mobilizing community and advocating for enrolling more girls. UNICEF - UNESCO welcome decision to reopen Schools in South Sudan Also, thousands of children, particularly those living in rural areas, from poorer families or with special needs, rely on schools as a lifeline to meals. Online learning is only for the privileged few. Multiple observers said schools re-opening would reduce risky pregnancy and early marriages among school girls. "COVID-19 is still with us but we have decided to reopen schools . The South Sudan government in partnership with GESS will pay capitation grants, in addition to cash transfers, to girls at levels from primary five (5) to senior fouer (4), Minister disclosed. South Sudan's Ministry of General Education and Instruction has announced the reopening of both secondary and primary schools country-wide in the national capital Juba on Monday. The government . Schools reopening date set to be decided today. The handover was also officiated by Minister Awut Deng and Save the Children's Country Director, Rama Hansraj. 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. Your email address will not be published. Copies were also given to the Ministry of Justice. "I am happy that schools are going to reopen. UNICEF successfully advocated for the reopening of schools after 14 months of closure due to COVID-19 measures, and supported schools to resume functioning. "Overstaying at home is embarrassing us and erasing away the knowledge we acquired from our teachers. The Minister of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) has just announced that all schools in South Sudan will reopen on 3 May 2021. Phase 1 includes the candidate classes, Primary 8 and Senior 4, and will start the first week of October 2020. 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. # Together For A Bright Future. I work for a government agency School reopens in South Sudan after more than a year of closure Fewer that one in 10 children has access to child protection services, the veteran UNICEF worker said, noting that between January and March this year, the agency scaled up treatment to more than 50,000 children who were suffering from severe acute malnutrition. 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 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. 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. Students tried to keep learning at home,but Wendy Ahonda (16)explains it was no easy feat. Usually, we look forward to the holidays, but suddenly our holiday became so long," Wendy said. May 3, 2021. "I can't wait to get the results and join the university. When girls remain out of school they are at higher risks of sexual exploitation and abuse, including child marriage. And yet increasingly, evidence points to harm being done to children by not being in school. At the same time, we have seen growing evidence of the negative impact closed classrooms have had on children, including abuse, exploitation, child marriage and early pregnancies. "We share in the excitement of the children, their teachers & the parents that finally the doors of our schools can reopen for children to learn, play and enjoy their right to safe education." 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. "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. . Noel Kana is one of them, "I am happy to hear that schools will reopen because being idle is not suitable for learners. However, stakeholders including the government representatives were briefed. Our task is to inform people about the dangers of occupying civilian facilities, Gai said. People must be able to earn a living. 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. September 12, 2020. 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 work for a private sector company Watch on. 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. Charity and Empowerment Foundation with support from Save the Children invited stakeholders for the official launch of the 'Safe Schools Declaration Guidelines' for South Sudan on Monday. There is only one functional teacher training college in the country to meet the demand for training teachers. I believe we are going to excel in the exams, and I am glad we have made it," Windy says with a grin. 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 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. 12 African cities vying for the most culturally vibrant on the continent. Joy in South Sudan, as schools reopen after 14-month COVID lockdown I work for a research organization Parents are also thrilled to see their children returning 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. She called for wider collaborations among actors to create a conducive environment for learning in South Sudan. 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. Students return to school in Juba, South Sudan, after more than fourteen months of COVID-19 restrictions. KEMPTON PARK - The last batch of South Africans who were stuck in war-ton Sudan have safely landed. I am excited to hear schools will reopen and soon we shall get to reunite with friends and teachers to learn more," Lawrence said. "When schools reopen, we will notice a reduced number of female students, she says with sadness in her eyes. 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. Students tried to keep learning at home, but Wendy Ahonda (16) explains it was no easy feat. Even the teachers are ready to go back to work. PDF South Sudan - Unicef 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.". 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. Photo Credit: WFP All schools have been closed since March 2020 due to COVID-19, keeping 2 million children out of school. "Overstaying at home is embarrassing us and erasing away the . SSBC News. These dangers included early pregnancies, child labour, recruitment into illegal groups and mental anguish. ywillemot@unicef.org tr.pant@unesco.org SDG: SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, Protection of human rights (Procedure 104). Norway donates $10 million for 'safe' reopening of schools in South Sudan There is increasing evidence that children and schools are not the main drivers of the epidemic across countries. OCHA coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. This is our responsibility as parents to ensure that our children are encouraged and supported to go back to school, the minister stressed. The plan includes improved water provision to schools, repair of water infrastructure, soap distribution, handwashing stations and sanitary kits. Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace. A joint assessment on the out-of-school children should be conducted involving all stakeholders including civil society. These include violence, exploitation and abuse (and) recruitment by armed groups, still going on, psychosocial distress and family separation. 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.