12 African cities vying for the most culturally vibrant on the continent. There were tears of joy at OR Tambo International Airport today following the return of 52 South . COVID-19 is still with us but we have decided to reopen schools and will strictly follow COVID-19 preventative measures in the schools, Akol told journalists in Juba during the official reopening for learners. And we know this has not been a short period; fourteen months of children being out of school are long, said Ms. Hamida. 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.". A special emphasis should go to support their return to schools. All South Africans evacuated from war-torn Sudan back home UNICEF has been one of many strong advocates for the reopening of schools. 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 Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday. Now, its time for Lawrence and the rest of the children to return to school. Even the teachers are ready to go back to work. 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 government . Now, its time for Lawrence and the rest of the children to return to school. It is estimated that 72% of children are out of school at the primary level and that 76% of girls are out of school the highest rate globally. 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. Several UN agencies, Embassies as well as education actors were represented at the event. School reopened Monday in South Sudan after closure for more than one year due to COVID-19 pandemic. The whole school erupted into hugging, cheering, and overall joy, knowing that they can join the university and get their degrees. UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Find out more about our work towards the Sustainable Development Goals. A lot happened to children when they were at home. They are more vulnerable to child labor and less likely to break out of the cycle of poverty. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. The party has accused the ANC of interfering in the management of the programme instead of allowing the provincial Education Department to seek solutions to the problems. Norway donates $10 million for 'safe' reopening of schools in South Sudan Students return to school in Juba, South Sudan, after more than fourteen months of COVID-19 restrictions. The crisis in South Sudan has impeded education for most of the countrys children. 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. 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. War in Sudan | Evacuees back on South African soil. It says the country now records a decline of three percent of cases daily. There is only one functional teacher training college in the country to meet the demand for training teachers. Learn about employment opportunities across the UN in South Sudan. I am very excited to enrol for my bachelor's degree in logistics studies; it is so appealing.". 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. 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. South Sudan launches 'Safe School Declaration Guidelines' with support These include violence, exploitation and abuse (and) recruitment by armed groups, still going on, psychosocial distress and family separation. 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. When girls remain out of school they are at higher risks of sexual exploitation and abuse, including child marriage. 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. Parents are also thrilled to see their children returning to school. Please do not stay at home anymore, come back to school, Lasseko said. The remote learning programme remained a temporary solution and the need for the reopening of schools became imminent. Numerous reports speak about child marriages and early pregnancies due to girls being out of school and increased gender-based violence. For girls, especially those who are displaced or living in poor households, the risks are even higher. Yes, children are at risk of infection, and yes, that is terrifying for parents. 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. With 2.2 million children not in school, South Sudan has one of the largest out-of-school figures worldwide. Schools allow children to access basic services including clean water, health and in many cases also food. "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." South Sudan: With guns silent, a school for boys arises SSEC- Report After Action Review of School Feeding (South Sudan Humanitarian Fund-SA 1) Questionnaire - IRNA Education Chapter. More than 800,000 people in South Sudan might lose access to health services if humanitarian funding is not met: https://t.co/94dCWnnttD pic.twitter.com/YB1EY7AGib. 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. Scholar: Africa is not a pawn. For Daniel, Wendy and other candidates sitting their final exams in early 2021, education resumed last year in October 2020. Salaam Schools - South Sudan. 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 . 165. Online learning is only for the privileged few. KEMPTON PARK - The last batch of South Africans who were stuck in war-ton Sudan have safely landed. Makuei also said restrictions on working hours had been lifted and that offices will open from 8am to 5pm beginning next week. But the countrywide reopening of schools in May 2021 is an opportunity to secure the future of children in South Sudan. Our work on the Sustainable Development Goals. 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. 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. However, the vast majority of children, if infected, display mild symptoms and recover well. 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.". UNICEF and UNESCO will work with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction to ensure that the return of the children of South Sudan to school can happen in the best circumstances, reducing as much as possible the risk of infections and ensuring that children no longer lose time. Discover UNESCO's impact around the world and the organisation's endeavour to build durable peace. Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace. Yesterday saw the phased reopening of schools in South Sudan. Government has finally - Salaam Schools - South Sudan | Facebook "The exams were fair, not hard, not easy, but it was fair. Many Things Need to Be Done Before Re-opening of Schools in South Sudan This builds on 11 years of Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF) support to national education coalitions for their engagement in education sector policy dialogue. I am excited to hear schools will reopen and soon we shall get to reunite with friends and teachers to learn more," Lawrence said. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. September 12, 2020. I am very excited to enrol for my bachelor's degree in logistics studies; it is so appealing.". Why Would A Black Family Get An Aquarium Membership? Speaking during the launch of the event on Monday, the Minister of General Education and Instructions Awut Deng Achuil urged parents to encourage their children to go back to school. As classes resume, the education ministry recommends that only 50 learners will be allowed in a classroom at the primary schools and 45 learners at the secondary schools. 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. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj, South Sudan launches school reopening across the country. This is our responsibility as parents to ensure that our children are encouraged and supported to go back to school, the minister stressed. Both pupils and students were so happy celebrating school re-opening after lifting the lockdown, Your email address will not be published. Watch on. Juba, South Sudan, After 14 months, schools in South Sudan reopen, Welcome to the United Nations country team website of South Sudan. Other. @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. 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 excited to hear schools will reopen and soon we shall get to reunite with friends and teachers to learn . On 20 March 2020, all schools in South Sudan were closedand almost 2 million children were forced out of classes due toCOVID-19 preventive measures. We dont have a school day to lose, the children have already lost so many. Since the beginning of the conflict to date, 293 incidents of attacks on schools or protected persons or of military use of schools were reported across the country. Ensuring children resume schooling has important benefits beyond academic learning. 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. 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. Established in 2002, the GEM Report is an editorially independent report, hosted and published by UNESCO. Before the pandemic, 2.8 million children were out of school due to poverty, inequalities, cultural beliefs and nomadic lifestyles. Fifty-eightwomen and children of more than 600 who were abducted last year during vicious intercommunal fighting in South Sudan, have been reunited with their families, the UN Spokesperson told reporters on Monday. 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. WATCH | Evacuees back on SA soil amid war in Sudan | eNCA . Cameroon: Rights Groups, Women Organizations Want Urgent End to Atrocities, Human Rights Violations in NW/SWRs, Congo Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project Paves the Way for Energy Security on the Back of Gas, Tanzanias Simba SC Lose To African Champions Waydad In A Do-Or-Die Quarter-Final, Nigeria: Cameroon Anglophone Refugees Turn To Farming For Survival, Tanzania: Dar-Zanzibar To Construct Longest Bridge In Africa Crossing The Sea, Appeasement In Khartoum-The Tragedy In Sudan Was Predictable. JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN 22 SEPTEMBER 2020 - UNICEF and UNESCO welcome the decision of the Government to start reopening of schools in South Sudan. The government says they want to ensure learning continues across the country despite the Covid-19 pandemic. 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. Students tried to keep learning at home, but Wendy Ahonda (16) explains it was no easy feat. "There is an existing order for all schools still occupied by armed groups to be vacated immediately.". Mobilizing community and advocating for enrolling more girls. With 2.2 million children not in school, South Sudan has one of the largest out-of-school figures worldwide. 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. On September 1, 2021, the Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Angelina Teny - in response to the letter written to her by Save the Children and CEF - ordered all military personnel and other armed groups to peacefully vacate all schools and other learning institutions currently under occupation to allow safe learning environment for children. Phase 1 includes the candidate classes, Primary 8 and Senior 4, and will start the first week of October 2020. VCG. UNICEF successfully advocated for the reopening of schools after 14 months of closure due to COVID-19 measures, and supported schools to resume functioning. 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. I work for the GPE Secretariat 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. . And the risks for them of keeping schools closed outweigh the health risks caused by the pandemic. "When schools reopen, we will notice a reduced number of female students, she says with sadness in her eyes. With the academic year cut just six weeks in, many students were worried they would never be able to sit their final exams and finish their education. The pandemic has left the most vulnerable and marginalized even further off track when it comes to access to quality education. "The exams were fair, not hard, not easy, but it was fair. Launch of the project "Boosting digital competencies of teachers in Chile". For Daniel, Wendy and other candidates sitting their final exams in early 2021, education resumed last year in October 2020. Students, teachers and parents look ahead as senior 4 exams finish. We are reopening today and we are reopening because we have children at home. Required fields are marked *, Receive news updates via email from this site. Minister of General Education and Instructions Awut Deng Achuil during the reopening of schools launch May 3rd. 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. May 4, 2021. "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. This should lead to a robust plan for ensuring all children receive a quality education, Rama Hansraj underscored. School reopens in South Sudan after more than year of closure UNDP Compound, Ministries Road 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. 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. 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. OCHA coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. But public expenditure is one of the worlds lowest for education. As schools have now resumed, it is important to monitor how many children effectively returned to the education facilities.