National Minister of General Education and Instruction Awut Deng Achuil on Monday arrived in Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State to preside over a conference to improve and transform the education system in the state.
The four-day conference being held at Grand Hotel in Aweil town started on Monday under the theme “Invest in Girls Education to Transform the Nation” and brought together more than 200 participants from across Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj shortly after the opening of the conference, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Education Minister Santino Bol Akok confirmed that Education Minster Deng was in the town for the conference which he said is also being attended by community leaders, government officials, and partners to find ways to improve education.
“Madam Awut Deng Achuil landed this morning (Monday) in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State to preside over the educational conference that has brought together many people including community leaders, headteachers, cabinet state ministers, and parliamentarians,” he said. “The conference is about transformation and that is why Minister Achuil came to our state to ensure that what is going on in other states shall also be implemented here.”
“The minister saw it necessary to include community leaders in the conference so that they can contribute towards the transformation of education in their communities,” Minister Bol added.
A cross-section of the people, including students, who are attending the conference admitted that school-going girls face many challenges.
Achai Dhieu Dhieu, a student at Aweil Madina Modern Secondary School, said girls are suffering in the quest to attain education.
“We have some challenges as girls like accessing school materials such as pens and books and if we ask our parents to provide our needs, they usually say they do not have money,” she explained. “Also, increasing prices of scholastic and commodity prices contribute to girls dropping out at school although we like education.”
“Boys sometimes get work but we as girls do not have the same opportunities to work and if a girl tries to find work in town, the locals say one is prostituting herself,” Dhieu added.
Another attendee, Emmanuel Deng, welcomed the national education minister and said he hoped that the conference will provide solutions to keep girls in school.
“We encourage girls to progress, work hard, and pursue education despite the challenges they are facing so that they will be like Minister Awut Deng,” he said.