More than 6,000 schoolgirls will receive cash grants from Windle Trust International, a non-governmental organization, to help them continue with school in Unity State.
Stephen Bijany Kuol, the education officer at Windle Trust, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday in Bentiu town, that the cash is in line with the Girls’ Education in South Sudan (GESS) that was introduced by the British government to ensure girls don’t drop out of school.
“We have supported these schoolgirls’ purpose to continue their education because before this program, many schoolgirls dropped out due to lack of school development funds and so many challenges are facing them while attending classes,” Bijany said.
The beneficiaries are from seven counties of Rubkona, Koch, Leer, Mayiendit, Panyijiar, Mayom, and Guit County and eight primary schools in Bentiu IDPs camp.
Girls in primary 8 received each SSP 14,400 while those in lower-class received SSP 11,000 each.
“We did not give them an equal amount of money because those in the highest classes, especially the candidate classes have many more challenges than those in lower classes,” Bijany added.
Bijany said they will continue to support girls to prevent them from dropping out of school saying the cash helps schoolgirls to buy personal effects.
Meanwhile, Nyamuch Kuich, a form 2 student at Bentiu Secondary School said she received SSP 14,400 and will use it to support herself.
“We can buy uniforms, exercise books, and other items,” she said.
David Majang Malual, the Director-General in Unity State’s education ministry confirmed that the disbursement of the money started last week in all the counties of Unity State.
“The distribution of cash started last week in Bentiu IDPs, Mayiendit, Rubkona, Bentiu town, Guit, Koch, Leer, Mayom, and Panyijiar counties and will end next week,” he said. “The number that will receive the cash will be 6,000 female students across the state.”
The Girls’ Education South Sudan (GESS) announced the disbursement of cash to girls across the country in November 2022.
The cash transfers are direct payments made to girls enrolled in classes Primary 5 to Senior 4 who are regularly attending classes and the 2022 cash transfers will support over 448,000 girls across South Sudan to access and remain in school, according to the statement.