Deborah Awut is a 26-year-old graduate of commerce from the Christian university of Eastern Africa based in Nairobi. It’s a significant achievement for anyone. But, Awut has now become the first woman to hold the position of school administrator in Lakes state.
She is the head of Hope and Resurrection Secondary School in Atiaba 13 miles from Rumbek town, the state capital.
Born and raised in Atiaba, Awut’s father sent her to school because he wanted to have an educated daughter. Today, her story is one of those being told across villages and has inspired many young women and parents alike.
At 26, she didn’t expect having such a huge responsibility so early in her life. But there were people who saw the potential in her. She was called to manage her former high school, a task she wasn’t prepared for and was afraid to take up the appointment.
‘I was quite scared when I got appointed, but as time went by I was so excited, and I told myself that this is the best place I should be’ she said.
In what South Sudan’s transitional constitution states as marriageable age, Awut could have been married off when she was a teenager before she completed her high school.
‘I really appreciate my parents a lot, especially my father. I lost my mum when I was very young. But my father has always been visionary about my education. He’s never lost hope on me,’ she said.
Still, Awut’s relatives sometimes put pressure on her dad to marry her off. But her father always pushed back.
‘She’s reached maturity age why wouldn’t she be allowed to get married? An educated girl is better than anything else,’ he said.
And thanks to this attitude, Awut is now a role model in her village and the entire community. With her education and competency, she could have chosen to find a job in the big cities and live an easier life. But she chose to stay in her community encouraging other girls to prioritize their education.
‘The work I am doing here is a big motivation to most of the parents here. After my school I could have remained in town and make more money than here. But I felt it was better to remain in my community where I was raised and give back to boost girl child education,’ she explains.
But it hasn’t been an easy path to finishing her education. Awut’s father didn’t have the resources to pay for her higher studies. However, her determination earned her a chance to finish school thanks to well-wishers.
‘Most girls lack determination and so they fail without completing their education. Even when they have the necessary support from parents, but with determination, you can make it. My father was determined and though he didn’t have all the resources, I was lucky to find someone who helped me to further my education’.
In most parts of the country including Lakes state, many people think women can’t be good leaders because they are seen to be both emotionally and physically weak and can’t make critical decisions.
Awut says she faces challenges with her male students when exercising discipline.
‘Sometimes boys see me as just a lady but don’t see the responsibility I have.’
Nevertheless, she is ever determined to carry out the duties of her job. ‘With that I didn’t back down on my responsibilities to look at myself as just a lady. I had to show them that I am beyond being just a woman. In the same way boys act, girls also act that way sometimes,’ she explains.
Awut says with her current job, she has paid back her dad who stood by her and ignored the pressure from relatives or the temptations of getting a large dowry to send her into early marriage.
‘For those people to realize that I am not just educated, I have to continue to influence them to take their children to school that will in turn help them in the future. And if they refuse, I will tell them that the same education that makes you look up to me is the same education I want to give to your children’ she further explains.
Awut is surrounded by people that question every status of women particularly when they are single. Some people believe a woman only has status or purpose if she has a family. But for Awut, the answer is short:
‘The fact that one isn’t married can’t stop her from taking responsibilities because marriage titles aren’t used in school or offices,’ she explains.
Anthony Mading is the head teacher of Hope and Resurrection Secondary School. He is very proud of Awut, his former student.
‘Even when I am away, I don’t feel that anything will go wrong. She’s a very intelligent young woman,’ he says.
Mading doesn’t hide how happy he is having one of his students becoming an administrator adding her presence serves as a role model to the other students.
There is no policy in place that encourages girl-child education like an affirmative action in South Sudan and Lakes state. However, the Director General in the state Ministry of Education, Johnson Majok Lueth insists that general education should be provided to everyone in the country regardless of gender and that the government is obliged to provide quality education for boys and girls.
‘Girl-child education is really very important because when you educate a woman you educate the whole country. As a ministry, we are fighting illiteracy to provide education for all’ he says.
Majok nonetheless admits that women have the same capabilities just as men have and should not be ignored in different capacities because of their gender.
John Maliir Makuac is a student at Hope and Resurrection high school. When asked about his feeling of having an administrator who is a young, single lady, he responded positively.
‘The presence of Deborah in the school has brought many changes in terms of discipline. She’s punctual and always organized,’ he says.
In Atiaba and other parts of South Sudan, some parents think the benefit of educating a girl would go to her husband’s family once she marries, so they see no reason to invest a lot of resources on her. However, Maria Adut Yuol, a close relative of Awut, has a different response when this question was put to her.
‘Deborah has taken much of the responsibilities in our family and I don’t think it is because she isn’t married. I believe she will continue to benefit us even after getting married’ she argues.
In recent years educated girls have attracted a higher dowry than the illiterate ones in most states with parents citing the acquired knowledge as well as resources the parents spend on their education. Most of their dowries go up to 200-400 cows and more.
Mary says, ‘Apart from the fact that she will be helping her family from her own work, the educated lady is married with many cattle because of the level of education she’s achieved and the fact that she can get a job and add something to the family compared to the illiterate one’.
Awut says not allowing girls to study is a disservice to the community and she encourages parents to give their full support to their girls to be educated especially now that they have someone to look up to. This story was produced with support from Journalists for Human Rights JHR strenghtening media in South Sudan.