South Sudan minister urges UN to respect government mandate
By Manyang Mayom
June 21, 2006 (JUBA) — A Southern Sudan government minister urged the United Nations to respect the Southern Sudan government’s mandate and to deliver donors’ aid for educations programmes without delay.
While addressing a two-day Education Reconstruction and Development Forum in Juba, The Minister of Education, Science and Technology in the Government of Southern Sudan, Michael Milli Hussein expressed his anger over UN delay in the delivery of donor’s aid to the concerned State ministry on the education field.
It seems that there are some funds from the Japanese government sent to schools construction in three states: Eastern Equatoria, Lakes state, Joungle State, but nothing yet has been received fro the concerned authorities.
The minister was addressing the ten (10) state ministers of Education in the capital of Southern Sudan Juba on how education policies can be pushed in the period of Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan.
The minister of Education science and technology told the United Nation (UN) that “you must have to respect us now we the people of Southern Sudan government, because we are already the government since CPA was signed last year 2005”
“We are not called rebels any longer” the minister added.
Milli said that we must to be given the highly respect by UN and others partners who are supporting South Sudan in facing problem of Sudan which are unbend.
Education Reconstruction and Development Forum was held in Juba from 16th to 16th June.
Since the signing of the CPA in January 2005, it was the first time to reunite all State ministers of educations.
Milli Hussein pushed for non-formal education for former SPLA soldiers, school drop-outs and those who have never attended school in order to combat illiteracy, which the minister rated at about 80 percent. He says it is necessary to build more schools and renovate the old ones. He also emphasized the importance of training and recruiting more teachers.
Participants at the forum identified issues of gender equity which need to be addressed, particularly constraints facing girls’ education. They also suggested that the Government of Southern Sudan come up with a code of conduct for teachers and education officials.
Nonetheless the government was blamed for delay in the payment of teachers salary.
While the Government of South Sudan has lunched a campaign “let all children go to school” one month ago, teachers were told to stop asking for the school fees from children. But getting money from the school fees remain the principal source for the teacher.
(ST)