Return to school, Western Lakes state minister tell dropouts

May 12, 2016 (RUMBEK) – An official in South Sudan’s Western Lakes state has appealed to all those who dropped out of schools to immediately resume their studies.

The state minister for local government and law enforcement, Benjamin Makuer said school dropouts should take advantage of the peace attained.

A number of schools closed shop in the state as a result of the inter-communal clashes in the area and could not continue with studies for fear of targeted killings by opponents.

“All students who dropped out from school due to inter-communal clashes should now go back to school, all those students who deserted their home and opted to stay inside Rumbek town for fear of revenge should come back to their original homes now that peace is here and everyone should resume normal business,” said the minister.

Makuer stressed the need for people to engage in agricultural production.

“This is the real time to cultivate your farms, all cattle keepers, youth and intellectuals should support the morale for cultivation so that we chase away hunger through farming. Everyone has to cultivate so that we don’t depend on humanitarian assistance next year,” he said.

The local government minister instructed police to monitor movement of cows within and outside Rumbek area. He said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police introduced a pass permit for the movement of cows from one location to another.

“Any movement of cows within Rumbek or going outside Rumbek will be granted a pass permit; any cow movement without permit should be detained for further clarification from owners who claim the cows,” stressed Makuer.

(ST)