“Back to learning” campaign launched in Malakal

24 Mar 2015

“Back to learning” campaign launched in Malakal

20 March 2015 - As part of nationwide efforts to ensure that children forced out of school by conflict to get back to their education, partners today launched the “Back to Learning” campaign in the Upper Nile State capital Malakal.

“The campaign reaffirms the commitment of the government to provide education to all her citizens,” said State Minister of Education, William Pur Tut.

He noted that the introduction of the campaign was meant to encourage every child to pick pens and book and get back to class, and to encourage the teachers to continue to teach.”

“The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Upper Nile State and education partners will engage in massive mobilization to identify and mitigate cultural and social practices hindering children specially girls from accessing education (and) through mass media campaigns, ensure all children of school-going age have access to quality learning,” he said.

Mr. Tut noted that in 2014, some 52,000 children were able to access learning in 100 schools in Maban, Foshoda, Makal, Akoka and Renk counties and in UNMISS protection sites.

He also revealed that 32 temporary learning spaces were established in the areas occupied by internally displaced persons.

The Head of UNICEF in Malakal, Paulin Nkwosseu, said that his organization would support the Upper Nile State Government with the campaign.

“Launching this vital initiative today is the first day in a year-long effort we are making to get 40,000 children in Upper Nile back to learning,” he said. “I am gravely concerned that education for (this) generation of children was badly affected by ongoing conflict.”

Noting that the war had effectively ended learning for 400,000 children in South Sudan, Mr. Nkwosseu said 70 per cent of 1200 schools in major conflict states were closed and “this simply jeopardized the future of the children”.

“UNICEF will take the track approach to the back to learning initiative,” he said. “We want to ensure that all the children across Upper Nile State are able to access education opportunity.”

He revealed that to support the learning for 40,000 children in the state ,UNICEF had procured supplies including special kits for children, early childhood development materials, tents, local materials and recreation kits.