The United Nations Children Fund and partners require forty seven point five million USD to provide access to learning opportunities for the more than half a million vulnerable children and adolescent girls in South Sudan.
In a statement UNICEF says this year’s Back to Learning initiative aims to provide five hundred thousand children and adolescents with access to age-appropriate learning opportunities.
It adds that the initiative also aims at establishing safe and protective learning environment, train teachers, Parent Teacher Association and School Management Committee members on social mobilization, among others.
‘The initiative will target the most under-represented communities throughout South Sudan, by providing learning opportunities for children currently not attending school, due to either conflict, cultural barriers or financial obstacles,’ the statement discloses.
The next phase of the Back to Learning will emphasize on children in conflict affected states, girls and other vulnerable children, UNICEF stresses.
Ensuring children access quality education will not only provide brighter future, but also benefits their community and South Sudan at large, says Mahimbo Mdoe, UNICEF’s Representative in South Sudan.
Deng Deng Hoc Yai, Minister of General Education and Instruction urges parents and guardians to take all their children to school.
He also directs public schools to admit all children free of charge in accordance with the law.
Deng expresses government’s commitment to provide equitable access to quality education to all children to achieve the national goal of peace and sustainable development.
The officials made the statement after the launched of the fourth phase of the ‘Back to Learning’ initiative on Tuesday in Kapoeta.