- In Brief
- In Depth
Primary education in south Sudan
More than two decades of civil war have left south Sudan devastated. Hundreds of thousands were killed and millions more were displaced: within Sudan, within the region, and beyond. The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 put an end to the fighting and opened the space for the return of an estimated 2.2 million people and the reconstruction and development of southern Sudan, but four years later conditions on the ground are still deplorable.
More then 90% of the population in south Sudan currently lives on less than 69 pence per day. Women’s literacy in south Sudan stands at just 2%, and a 15-year-old girl has a greater chance of dying in childbirth than completing her education. Northern Bahr el Ghazal is one of the most populous states in south Sudan and hosts the largest number of returnees in the region: nearly half a million men, women, boys and girls have returned to the state since the end of the war, with nearly 100,000 more expected to come in 2009. Despite its large and rapidly growing population, Northern Bahr el Ghazal has few schools, and most of those that do exist are simply open-air ‘learning spaces’, overcrowded and under-supplied.
What can the IRC do?
The IRC has worked in Sudan for over 27 years and has established good relationships with parents, parent-teacher associations and local government officials, many of whom have requested the support that the IRC proposes.
The IRC’s project will target at least 30 teachers and more than 2,200 students in Aweil Town, the capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. The population of Aweil Town has grown exponentially in the past few years as tens of thousands have arrived in search of jobs and services including healthcare and education. Despite the efforts of government and its NGO partners, services have been unable to keep up with demand. Relatively few schools have been constructed, and only a handful of teachers have been trained.
Working together with students, parents, teachers, community leaders and local government officials, the IRC will implement a programme in Aweil Town that aims to ensure that all children – boys and girls, returnees and host community members – can enjoy their right to education without fear of violence, discrimination or abuse. This will include the construction of permanent classrooms and training on the rights of the child and the prevention of violence and sexual abuse.
How can you help?
Running the proposed teacher training project and providing the requisite supplies for building the school classrooms will cost £61,868, broken down as follows:
- Staffing - £22,825
- Travel - £3,122
- Supplies and materials - £32,021
- Office costs - £3,900
- Total - £61,868
The figures above all include up to 10% support costs including HR, finance and IT.
Please contact Stefanie Pfeil, Director of Development on 020 7692 2735 or stefanie.pfeil(at)ircuk.org for more information.
