COVID-19: South Sudans schools set to reopen, minister says, South Sudan confirms 72 more COVID-19 cases, South Sudan confirms its fourth Covid-19 case, South Sudan reports fifth confirmed COVID-19 case, Workers recover first bodies from collapsed mine in DR Congo, Egypt records 153 new COVID-19 cases,bringing the tally to 101,009, 2022 witnessed landmark setback for U.S. human rights: report, Africa marks 10-year anniversary of President Xis four-point proposal, 2023 marks a decade since Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first visit to Africa. We are calling on to the teachers to welcome their pupils back in their classes. The Declaration is expected to also protect students, teachers, schools, and other learning institutions from some of the worst effects of armed conflicts. 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. September 12, 2020. 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. 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. But the countrywide reopening of schools in May 2021 is an opportunity to secure the future of children in South Sudan. We are reopening today and we are reopening because we have children at home. I understand that parents might be nervous, but I urge all caregivers to trust that their children are safer at school. The closure ended up being a huge blow for education, but more than anything it turned into a child rights crisis. And the risks for them of keeping schools closed outweigh the health risks caused by the pandemic. In her remarks, Save the Children's Country Director, Rama Hansraj said there is a need for strong participation of the government to enforce the document. This is a great day for children in South Sudan who can soon resume their learning and continue planning for their future. After 14 months, schools in South Sudan reopen 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. I work for the GPE Secretariat When schools close, their lifeline to these services is taken away. UNICEF - UNESCO welcome decision to reopen Schools in South Sudan Noel Kana is one of them, "I am happy to hear that schools will reopen because being idle is not suitable for learners. In South Sudan, schools provide more than just academics. We must mobilize to ensure no one is left behind, said Jacqueline Weekers, Director of Migration Health for IOM. "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. This time, we worked so hard to complete the syllabus, thanks to our amazing teachers.". This comes on top of the 2.2 million children out of school before the pandemic hit South Sudan. Launch of the project "Boosting digital competencies of teachers in Chile". The reopening will happen in phases. In the lower secondary level, it is reported that 60% of children are denied access to education which accounts for the second-highest rate in the World. 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. I work in academia 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. It is now ten years since Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first visit to Africa, with Tanzania being his first stop on the Opinion Piece: The Author isDr Zhou Pingjian, the Ambassador of China to Kenya. 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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.. The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) provided the funding. She caution students to keenly observed health prevention measures in class. "Overstaying at home is embarrassing us and erasing away the knowledge we acquired from our teachers. 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. ", 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. I am excited to hear schools will reopen and soon we shall get to reunite with friends and teachers to learn more," Lawrence said. A joint statement by UNICEF and UNESCO argued that children and schools were not the predominant drivers of the spread of the pandemic. She called for wider collaborations among actors to create a conducive environment for learning in South Sudan. How fast are countries transforming their education? CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. The Honourable Minister of General Education and Instruction, Awut Deng Acuil . The Minister of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) has just announced that all schools in South Sudan will reopen on 3 May 2021. As South Sudan starts reopening schools, UNMISS peacekeepers from With 2.2 million children not in school, South Sudan has one of the largest out-of-school figures worldwide. (END). Groundwater, making the invisible visible. Learn about employment opportunities across the UN in South Sudan. 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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). 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. 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. However, stakeholders including the government representatives were briefed. 6,385 Views. UNDP Compound, Ministries Road I am excited to hear schools will reopen and soon we shall get to reunite with friends and teachers to learn more," Lawrence said. ", 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. GPE had provided the South Sudan National Education Coalition with a grant from the CSEF to support its engagement in education sector policy dialogue and citizens voice in education quality, equity, and financing and sector reform. Even the teachers are ready to go back to work. 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. This is especially true for girls. 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. JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN 22 SEPTEMBER 2020 - UNICEF and UNESCO welcome the decision of the Government to start reopening of schools in South Sudan. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN 22 SEPTEMBER 2020 - UNICEF and UNESCO welcome the decision of the Government to start reopening of schools in South Sudan. 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. 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. Find the latest Ideas, Multimedia content, Free courses, publications and reports. I am very excited to enrol for my bachelor's degree in logistics studies; it is so appealing.". 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. However, catching up on seven months of lost education and preparing for the biggest exam of our lives was stressful. School In South Sudan - schoolslearning.info 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. Your email address will not be published. @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. Because education cannot wait. With the closure of schools, from one day to another, the number of out of school children in South Sudan had almost doubled. I work for a private sector company Mobilizing community and advocating for enrolling more girls. People must be able to earn a living. These incidents cumulatively affected more than 90,000 children. Monday 3 May was a special day for millions of children in South Sudan. Lifelong learning is key to overcoming global challenges and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Schools in South Sudan were shut down for 14 months to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. Now, its time for Lawrence and the rest of the children to return to school. School meals in Sudan are a strong incentive for parents to send their children to school. (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. "Overstaying at home is embarrassing us and erasing away the knowledge we acquired from our teachers. There are 400,000 children out of school due to chronic insecurity and displacement, while another 13,000 are absorbed in the country's . 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. And to the children, who have advocated for a return to school so that they can resume with their education and meet their teachers and peers again, we say that their message was heard; they also have a role to play to keep their schools safe. As schools have now resumed, it is important to monitor how many children effectively returned to the education facilities. Schools in South Sudan are set to reopen nearly seven months after they were closed as part of the governments measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. WATCH | Evacuees back on SA soil amid war in Sudan | eNCA 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. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj, South Sudan launches school reopening across the country. Children are safer inside the school walls than outside. "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. 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. The plan includes improved water provision to schools, repair of water infrastructure, soap distribution, handwashing stations and sanitary kits. Nathalina Samuel is happy that her seven children can resume their education. And the states government should work with national ministry of General Education to develop the education sector, he added. "I am so excited for completing my exams despite the long stay at home. The reopening will happen in phases. 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. "I am happy that right now, we can study again. UNICEF and UNESCO welcome the decision of the Government to start reopening of schools in South Sudan. 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. The education system in the country consists of 8,000 primary schools (grades 1-8), 120 secondary schools (grades 9-12) and one university. The booklets were handed over to the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Defense, Major General Chol Diar Ngang and the Deputy Inspector General of Police Lieutenant-General James Pui Yak Yiel. This document is inclusive of peacebuilding education, life skills, citizenship in the curriculum. I work for a government agency To counter disruptions in education caused by COVID-19, UNMISS peacekeepers from Mongolia hand over school materials for displaced children in Bentiu. There is increasing evidence that children and schools are not the main drivers of the epidemic across countries. 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. However, schools are closed until September, as one of the measures to halt the spread of COVID-19. "I am happy that schools are going to reopen. Together with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, UNICEF, UNESCO and education partners have made a plan for a safe reopening of schools.