Former child soldiers may go back to SPLA

Sept 11, 2006 (KAPOETA) — Former child soldiers now studying at Deng Nhial primary school in Lakes state may opt to go back to the army if the Government of Southern Sudan does not come up with mechanisms to reintegrate them into their communities.

Head teacher Bol Jalab told Sudan Radio Service that most former child soldiers in the school say they will go back to the army because the school cannot provide their basic needs and doesn’t have enough trained teachers.

Bol claims there are about 168 former child soldiers in the school but most of them do not attend classes. He said there is dire need for professional counselors in the school to help students recover from their traumatic experiences in the war.

He said enrollment of children in schools across Lakes state has recently decreased due to lack of food.

Bol appealed to the state Ministry of Education to work with local and international organizations to improve education in the state. Deng Nhial primary school was established specifically to educate former child soldiers.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in the past five years more than 15,000 children have been disarmed, demobilised and returned to their families and communities from SPLA ranks. Of these, 900 were disarmed after the signing of the CPA.

(SRS/ST)