W. Equatoria governor encourages girls to excel in education

January 29, 2011 (YAMBIO) – The governor of Western Equatoria state Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro on Wednesday 26 January encouraged girls in the state to prioritize education.

The governor addressed female students at Yambio cultural center courtesy of his call to discuss with the school girls on the challenges they face, where they are today and their visions citing that to educating a woman is to educate a nation.

He urged the girls to remain at schoolas “learning is a continuous process in spite of age.”

The governor cautioned the school girls from “engaging in modern life of staying in the bars, selling in restaurants.”

“You cannot make money by selling your selves for sex and forget schools, but struggle to have bright future in the new Republic of South Sudan” he added.

Bakosoro said, “some of the girls are clever in schools but the environments and surroundings where they study are not favorable.”

Bakosoro, once a footballer, encourage the girls to take sports as part of their studies for refreshment after classes.

During the last Anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace agreement held last year on January 19 in Yambio, state’s Capital, the girl’s football team of Western Equatoria emerged as champions.

The governor cautioned the school girls to stay away from riot demonstrations in schools, but encourage peaceful and genuine demonstrations that will not “result to any loss of life and destruction of public properties.”

“Parents should respect their children and prepare them grounds for their carrier and vice versa likewise respect to teachers is paramount” disclosed Bakosoro. He urged the teachers to be “sober during classes.”

Angeline Daniel, a student from Comboni Parents Secondary School disclosed that “the challenges girls face include forceful marriage, by some parents and others lack parental care.”

Kitibe Lucy, a representative of Yabongo Secondary School said “some girls after completion of O’level lack scholarships to further their studies.”

She added that “most schools lack skilled teachers’ calling upon the government to “provide trainings to teachers to spur quality education in the state.”

Lucy called upon the State Ministry of Education to establish the boarding school for girls in the state that will reduce the domestic work enforced on girls upon return from schools.

Meanwhile the Director General of the state Ministry of Education, Nama Bullen Basir appreciated the initiative saying “it is the first of its kind for a governor to encourage student on the importance of Education in Western Equatoria state.”

She encouraged the students to have spirit of team work during studies and while on holidays.

Nama mentioned that “the state Ministry of Education has prioritize long term trainings of teachers this year 2011 that will deliver quality education in the state.”

She condemned the sending of children to outside countries adding that children forget their cultures and adopt foreign cultures.

The director general pointed out that, they have planned “to have boarding schools for boys and girls in the greater counties of Yambio, Tambura, Maridi and Mundri counties.”

The State Minister of Education Adel Senderi added that “it is the interest of the Ministry of Education that all girls complete their studies for a bright future.”

“We have planned to prioritize to rehabilitate education programs and system in the state by including some information communication technology lessons n some secondary schools.”

Adel urged the girls to avoid associating with wrong groups and should not be like any girl in the community but exceptional girls who are focused to achieve a goal in the nearest future.

(ST)