Forced and early marriage practices are discouraging girls’ education in Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria.
State education minister Michael Lopuke Lotyam told Radio Emmanuel that he toured Magwi basic schools and found out that up to Primary four the girls were the majority in the classrooms.However, in upper classes boys were in majority.
Mr Lopuke said when the girls reach 15 or 16 they are forced to marry or to get pregnant.
The minister commented that there was a strong social pressure for girls to get pregnant at a younger age.
Midwife Rose Mary Aserwa, who works at Torit State Hospital, refuted claims that woman cannot produce children at later ages.
She said early marriage and pregnancy between the ages of 14 and 17 put the lives of girls at big risk.
The midwife advised girls to study to be able to support their family and make the right choices in life.
Ms Aserwa encouraged young people to abstain from sex until they completed their studies.