A South Sudanese official has said environmental degradation is one of the major concerns of the new nation, advocating for a reverse in the trend through awareness.
John Malith Rual is the Director of Africa Partnership Aid for Rehabilitation and Development.Mr. Malith is part of the team facilitating the ongoing workshops on environmental conservation implemented by the Education Department of the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek, trainings that are targeting pupils through their teachers with sponsorship from the European Union.
He identified environmental degradation as one of the major concerns for South Sudan, adding that the success of the new nation will be determined by whether it is able to reverse the trend of environmental degradation.
Mr. Malith also emphasized the need to teach children about the dangers of environmental degradation, explaining that their inquisitive nature will help them to contribute positively in the efforts to conserve the environment.
Mr. Malith challenged members of his community to observe hygiene and proper waste management, revealing that the ongoing workshops are helping teachers shift from ignorance about the environment to practical knowledge and skills about environmental conservation.
The first of the eight workshops was held at Comboni Primary School in Rumbek last week, bringing together 50 teachers drawn from ten different schools within Rumbek.