SPLM-N officials in the Nuba Mountains expect to open a secondary school next year in Yida refugee camp, near the border between Unity and South Kordofan states. Education at Yida has been limited because the UN thus far designates Yida a ‘settlement’ rather than an official camp.
Education Director-General Kuti Ernesto Afjan confirmed that they are ready to implement the plan, according to the Juba-based Catholic news agency, which runs one FM radio station in the Nuba Mountains.
Kuti said they are expecting to give scholarships and that boarding will only be provided to female students. The director said the secondary school will not have a limit as they are appealing for donors to assist them in the future. He asserted that they are going to get qualified teachers for the school.
The UN-supported secondary school in Pariang has attracted a number of students from Yida, but much of the camp population of more than 60,000 thus far refused to move south from Yida.
UNHCR High Commissioner António Guterres visited Yida late last month, his second visit this year, in the company of Unity State Governor Taban Deng. During their visit they met with community leaders and discussed plans for relocating the camp to a proposed new site near Jamjang.
Photo by Radio Tamazuj: Secondary School for Nuba refugees in Pariang, Unity State