In Longechuk County, children sit under the trees to receive classes because there are no building facilities available. Pupils and teachers complain bitterly about the situation.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj over the weekend, several pupils in the county voiced their concerns about studying under trees and the scarcity of textbooks and stationery.
Nyakhor Bol, a 17-year-old pupil at Madang Primary School, described the situation as challenging and appealed for assistance.
“One of the problems is the insufficient number of classrooms. Students in lower grades are forced to have lessons under trees and are sent home when it rains,” she shared.
Bol further expressed the lack of school uniforms and textbooks and for female students, the additional struggle of not having access to sanitary pads.
Koat Bil, another pupil, expressed the feeling of neglect and earnestly requested that their plight be addressed. “We have no uniforms, no food, and even no access to clean water. This situation is truly challenging,” he emphasized. “We also face a shortage of scholastic materials such as pens, exercise books, and textbooks. We implore our government to witness our suffering and come to our aid,” Bil added.
The closure and destruction of several schools in Longechuk County during the five-year civil war have exacerbated the challenges faced by the education system. Although the majority of primary and secondary schools reopened in 2018 following the signing of a peace deal, pupils and teachers continue to struggle.
One teacher shared that it has been a constant battle to keep students engaged since 2018, despite the challenges they face. “We cannot simply refuse to teach due to these obstacles; we have to find a way,” the teacher emphasized.
Goanar Nyoch Reath, the county education director, acknowledged that the situation in Longechuk County is overwhelming, with at least 40 primary schools operating under trees. He stressed the need for engagement from aid agencies as the county lacks resources.
“Out of the 40 schools, only seven have concrete structures, including both primary and secondary schools. The remaining three primary schools and two secondary schools were built prior to the South Sudan conflict,” explained Goanar.
Attempts to reach the Ministry of General Education in Upper Nile were futile.
The country’s Transitional Constitution, under Article 29(1), guarantees the right to education for every citizen without discrimination based on religion, race, ethnicity, health status, gender, or disability.