South Sudan cancels Arabic curriculum

July 13, 2007 (JUBA) — The government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has adopted a resolution to cancel the use of Arabic as language of studying in the schools and to replace it by English language, the daily Akhar al-Youm reported.

Plans and strategies of the GoSS Ministry of Education, Sciences and Technology indicate that studying in the Arabic language in schools will be gradually cancelled all over the south Sudan and be replaced by the English language.

In its previous session last week, the Council of Ministers of the GOSS had preliminary endorsed the plan and finalized it in its session yesterday in preparation for presenting it before the Legislative Assembly of Southern Sudan for approval.

Arabic will be studied as a separate subject in all levels and this therefore means that the Arabic curriculum will be cancelled.

It is to be noted that the two curriculums used to be in use concurrently a matter which has generated controversy among observers and the Southern community.

(ST)