The United State of America has called on the Transitional Government of South Sudan to invest public resources to fulfil its obligations to the people.
The US Embassy in Juba, in a press release marking the International Literacy Day (ILD) 2024 on Sunday, reiterated that education and literacy are fundamental human rights.
“They open doors to economic opportunities, break cycles of poverty, and enhance personal and societal growth,” reads the press release.
“They also facilitate effective communication and participation in democratic processes, strengthening community engagement and cohesion.”
The statement noted that South Sudan has one of the worst literacy rates in the world.
Approximately 70 percent of the South Sudanese adults cannot read or write, roughly, 84 percent of girls over the age of 15 were illiterate, and an estimated 2.8 million children were out of school, according to recent United Nations data.
The US statement said that though the Transitional Government had failed to meet the needs of the people it purports to serve, the American government had provided more than US$328 million to help millions of South Sudanese citizens develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills, advance their economic well-being, improve their health, reduce poverty, and increase their participation in the labor market.
ILD, celebrated each year on September 8, was declared by UNESCO on October 26, 1966 at the 14th session of the General Conference. It was celebrated for the first time in 1967.
The theme for this year was: Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace