More than 300 thousand school children are expected to benefit from Integrated Essential Emergency Education Services in Central Upper Nile State. That is according to USAID and UNICEF officials in South Sudan.
The three years project was launched on Friday in Malakal town, aimed at providing access to education to all the children and youth who are affected by war.
Andrea Suley, UNICEF Deputy Representative says emergency education is a continued response to the need of education created by the ongoing conflict.
USAID Education specialist, Jane Namadi Ladu explains that South Sudanese communities have gone through what she terms as ‘terrible experience’ which needs an immediate intervention of peace building and trauma healing skills.
Namadi promises that USAID will collaborate with UNCEF to provide emotional support to help children and youth to be resilient in the face of terrible experiences that they have survived in the last years.
James Tor Monybuny, Governor of Central Upper Nile state admits that his state is among most affected areas hit by the ongoing war in the country.
He urges parents to make good use of the projects launched in the area so that their children can go to school and get education for their lives.
The Governor vows to improve security in the area to enable the project to succeed.
UNICEF officials say approximately 72 percent of primary-age children in South Sudan are out of school which is the world’s highest rate.
Hundreds of school children and youth attended the launched of the project at Malakal Stadium on Friday.