US$500,000 to fight high illiteracy rates in South Sudan

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has earmarked US$500,000 to boost efforts by South Sudan government to fight the high illiteracy rates in the country, Salah Khaled, its head of office said. South Sudan, the world's newest nation, suffered over two decades of a bloody civil war, which massively destroyed its existing infrastructures, including schools, tertiary and technical institutions. The country, according to its 2009 Household Survey report, has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world, with only 27 percent of those aged 15 and above are said to be literate. Also, the vast majority of South Sudanese, the National Bureau of Statistics figures show, are unable to read and write.

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Literacy

"Literacy should involve all stakeholders in the country, regardless of status in society," Mr. Khaled said at a conference, organized to mark literacy week in South Sudan. UNESCO, Khaled told attendees at the two-day conference, will closely work with the Education Ministry in the implementation of the five-year (2012-2015) General Education Strategic Plan. South Sudan, last week, officially launched a nationwide campaign seeking to reduce by 50%, illiteracy rates among its adult population by 2015. The campaign is part of its much-hyped "Education for All (EFA) programme.

Joseph Ukel Abango, South Sudan's Minister for General Education and Instruction reiterated government's commitment to reduce illiteracy in the country, citing the recent passing of the General Education Bill as a milestone in the education sector. "Illiteracy can easily be overcome though political and social campaigns involving all stakeholders in the country as stipulated in South Sudan's Transitional Constitution," he said.

"We still have serious challenges to tackle," he acknowledged, but said the five-year General Education Strategic Plan, provides an opportunity and platform for addressing the setbacks in the country's education systems. South Sudan National Legislative Assembly (SSNLA) recently passed the long-awaited General Education Bill, which among other provisions considers the English language as the acceptable medium of instruction in all schools in the country.

Also a concern, the General Education and Instruction Minister said, was the low level of girls in primary schools. Women in South Sudan, according to the 2009 Household survey report, are equally affected by the high levels of illiteracy, with just 19 percent of them aged 15 and above said to be literate. The Minister, however, urged all stakeholder and development partners in the country to use to two-day literacy conference as a platform to reflect on the human dimensions illiteracy can have on the population in society.

KEY FACTS ON EDUCATION

South Sudan, with a literacy rate of 27% for those aged 15 and over, has one of the lowest rates of literacy in the world
Only 19% of South Sudanese women over age 15 found to be literate, with Jonglei State having the lowest literacy rate of 25% for those aged 15-24
Currently, over one million children are estimated to be out of school, and of those who do enroll, 27.3% drop out before completing a full cycle
Only 37.1% of eligible girls enroll in primary school and just 1.3% of them enroll in secondary level education
Only 32% of South Sudanese over the age of 15 have ever attended school, with the figure said to be just 26% for young people living in rural areas of South Sudan
South Sudan's Education for All (EFA) Goal 4 is a 50% reduction in adult illiteracy by 2015, yet it remains one of the least funded.

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