The percentage of girls in school in South Sudan is still much lower than expected.
This was the alert left by UNICEF education chief, Mphisa Simon, this afternoon in Juba.Mr. Mphisa said in South Sudan girls count for less than 30 percent of the total student population and only seven percent manage to finish primary school.
Mr. Mphisa said cultural beliefs were the key issues that hindered girl-child education in south Sudan.
He added that in South Sudan girls and women were important for their roles as mothers and wives and not as professionals.
Mr. Mphisa added that UNICEF was making schools girl-friendly to encourage a bigger number of young women to enrol.
The UN agency for children is working with parents and local leaders to promote the importance of sending girls to school.