Over 3 million people get free primary education in south Sudan

By Ngor Arol Garang

May 19, 2010 (WUNROK) — Five years after the launched of Go to School initiative by president of the regional government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, authorities at the ministry of education, say at least over three million students across the region get free primary education under the Universal primary Education.

Professor Job Dhoruai, caretaker minister of education, science and technology, in report extended to Sudan Tribune said the latest headcount which shows a growing number of students joining every year, is rapidly encouraging

He said in 2006 when the programme started, only a figure recorded as 161,396 students were enrolled across the semi-autonomous region. The following year, 2007, 145,23 joined; another 160,11 got on in both 2008 and 2009, while 201,990 students joined this year.

Minister Dhoruai however added that about 29.2% of the students who joined primary eight in 2007 have dropped out. A report compiled after the headcount and which the education ministry is yet to release, says of the students who joined primary eight in 2007, only 117,518 made it to secondary school this academic year.

This implies 43,682 dropped out.

It is not clear if they joined schools not covered under the programme, he explained adding he believes some of them joined other schools outside the region. Records and information show that some wealthy families remove children from school in South Sudan and take them abroad mostly to Eastern African countries allegedly in search of quality education.

He also said some 43,885 students might have dropped out, mainly due to teenage pregnancies, hidden costs and poverty, while some just lost interest and quit.

About 9,410 students enrolled in business, technical and vocational institutions, he said adding 3,024 students who joined technical institutions in 2007, about 491 dropped out.

He further said government releases bursaries per year for those in private schools under government scholarship in different countries including East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia as well as those in Egypt, South Africa and beyond.

Officials from the regional government of southern during the launching of fifth anniversary of the Go to School initiative Juba last April noted that with the increased enrollment, the capitation grant needs to grow.

They said the ministry need more to raise the capitation which will also go into grading and supervising of both primary and secondary schools.

According to professor Job Dhoruai, headcounts in all school including privates in the region both primary and secondary schools are carried out annually to provide data which is used in the allocation of capitation grants. It also helps rule out ghost teachers, absenteeism, and drop-out and repetition rates.

(ST)