WAU, Western Bahr el Ghazai — On July 18, the president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, addressed his country about the need for girls to have equal access to education. His speech was presented during his visit to Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el Ghazai. For a nation where gender inequality runs deep, Mayardit’s insistence on the right of all children to receive an education is pivotal.
The president stressed that the key to bright and promising futures for young girls is education, not marrying early. He also cited literacy and problem solving skills learned in school as instrumental to helping the girls of South Sudan compete in the modern world.
As one of the poorest nations in the world, South Sudan struggles to keep its youth, especially girls, in school. Years of civil war, which finally ended in 2005, left the county’s infrastructure destroyed and its government weak. The ‘Go to School’ initiative, started by the government in 2006, greatly improved access to education and increased enrollment from 700,000 in 2007 to over 1.6 million by 2010.
Despite recent increases in enrollment, education in South Sudan remains remarkably poor. Over one million school aged children, mainly in rural regions, are not in school. Primary school completion rates are less than 10 percent, one of the worst in the world.
Girls, specifically, are often denied an education because they are required to work at home to support and care for the family. Across the country only 33 percent of girls attend school. Because poverty affects many, the majority of families feel they cannot afford to have their daughters in school because the girls are needed to work.
Another factor limiting girls’ education in South Sudan is early marriage. Parents marry their daughters at a young age for financial reasons. The payment of a dowry is still widely practiced in South Sudan so the family gains money, cattle or other gifts. Half of all girls in the country between the ages of 15 and 19 years old are married and some have a husband as young as age 12.
Early marriage keeps girls out of school and limits their futures. It is also a significant contributing factor to the country’s soaring rates of maternal morality, which are some of the highest in the world.
Mayardit spoke directly against these practices and said girls can better support their families when they have an education. School is the most effective tool for enabling girls to lift themselves out of poverty.
During his speech, Mayardit also announced steps he will be taking to actively improve education for girls. The president promised the construction of two new schools in Wau, one of which will be a secondary boarding school just for girls.
The president’s words and actions show that girls’ education in South Sudan has become a priority. With the leadership seeking to reduce gender inequalities and to better educate the public, South Sudan is looking at a brighter future. Although the problem is pervasive, the fact that the government recognizes and is taking action to ensure that girls attend school, is a critical first step.
– Kathleen Egan
Sources: Sudan Tribune, UNICEF, IRIN
Photo: USAID blog