The ministry of education in South Sudan’s Yei River State has banned underage students from attending nighttime social events.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Thursday, the state education minister, Peter Butili Farrajallah said high dropout rates have been reported due to early pregnancies and alcohol consumption among the students.
He said the ministry’s order is to prevent learners from dropping out of schools as well as protect the environment in which they study.
“We don’t want to entertain children in social gatherings, particularly in disco halls and at funeral rites. We have discovered that children, especially young girls distribute food, tea and beer at funeral places and have no time to sleep and read,” Butili said.
The official further said they have instructed the police, area chiefs and county authorities to implement the directive.
“We have already written to the attorney general and he will be the one to issue arrest powers to the police and the police will be tasked to monitor all social events, including disco halls and overnight prayers,” Butili said.
He added, “If children are caught in such places, their parents will be called to police stations to answer, with charges or corporal punishment so that they don’t allow their children to go to such events again”.