Eighty-eight schools in South Sudan are occupied by soldiers or conflict-displaced people while dozens of others are presently abandoned owing to teachers strikes or lack of teachers who have fled or been recruited into armed forces.
In a statement yesterday, the UN humanitarian office in South Sudan reported, “Teachers in many parts of the country particularly in Jonglei have continued to maintain their strike over non- payment of allowances. This has affected the end of year academic evaluation as children cannot sit for their examinations.”
The UN also said that occupation of schools by armed forces or displaced people remains a “significant challenge,” noting that the storage of munitions at school sites poses a potential risk for children when the schools reopen.
Meanwhile, in Warrap State floods have also continued to affect the operation of many schools. Over 23,000 children are affected by school closings in the state, according to the UN humanitarian office.
Photo: A school occupied by soldiers in Bentiu. Courtesy: UN SRSG/CAAC
Related coverage:
Students protest in Raja over teacher shortage (8 Sept.)
Students idle as underpaid teachers go to fight (4 Sept.)
Few teachers and many student dropouts in Ezo County (4 Aug.)
Education minister in Wau says teachers joining army (25 March)