JONGLEI – Some people say education is the key to life, but in Bor’s camp for displaced persons, the hope of achieving that goal is overshadowed by numerous challenges, including conflict, displacement, flooding, and hunger.
During a recent event in the area, a team from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) visited Inter-Covenant Secondary School, one of the schools within the camp, to explore what can be done to overcome some of the many obstacles to education.
“When you’re in class without having breakfast or lunch, it’s only your body that is in class, but the mind is busy, thinking: when I go home today, what will I eat? I’m not focusing on lessons,” says Treasure Michael, a student.
She reveals many students have dropped out of school because they do not have the means to pay school fees, buy scholastic materials, or access proper medical care to remain healthy.
Nyakou Bangoang, another pupil, says insecurity also poses a threat to learners: “When there is fighting, girls, mothers, and young people are the most affected. I am constantly afraid that I may be forced to marry early or my parents may run out of money for school fees next year?”
For Nial Gatbouk, talk of elections bring more fear than hope.
“My experience tells me that without adequate security in place, elections will ignite more violence, displacement, and suffering,” says Gatbouk.
Despite these challenges, students like Nyakou remain in class and wish to change not only their own lives but also those of others.
“I want to be an education expert to impart knowledge and skills to the younger generation, build schools, and train teachers,” says Nyakou passionately.
Like her fellow students, Treasure Michael hopes education will help transform her own life and that of her parents, who never had the opportunity to attend school due to years of conflict.
“We are all tired, hungry, and we don’t want war. We should try and forge a new future with quality learning, good health, new development opportunities, and peace,” says Treasure.
Samuel Ador Thon, Minister of General Education and Instruction in Jonglei State, said the challenges facing education range from conflict and flooding to intercommunal violence and the limited number of trained teachers.
“We provide lifesaving and stabilization support to ensure that education continues even during crises so that children continue learning,” says Thon.
UNMISS, in partnership with Jonglei State Ministry of Education, is rolling out a school outreach programme targeting both primary and secondary school learners to help them remain in class, train them as peace ambassadors, and encourage them to become role models.
So far, this non-funded outreach project has reached seven learning establishments in Bor, offering a ray of hope in a landscape defined by hardship.
Sokiri James Kenyi
