South Sudan Vice President Abdelbagi Akol [Photo: The Review City]
Schools in South Sudan have reopened after closure for more than one year due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Vice President Abdelbagi Akol said the decision followed a decline in the reported Covid-19 infections.
He however said the ministry of education and that of health have put in place safety measures, to avert spreading the virus within the learning institutions.
“COVID-19 is still with us but we have decided to reopen schools and will strictly follow COVID-19 preventative measures in the schools,” said Akol.
Mr. Akol however noted that schools will only operate at half capacity as a preventive measure against COVID-19.
The minister of general education and instruction Awut Deng Acuil urged parents and guardians to enroll all children in schools.
She said it is mandatory for pregnant and breast feeding girls to also attend school and have access to quality education.
In matters regarding COVID-19, Acuil said the government is doing everything in its power to ensure that schools reopen safely.
She revealed that an education program known as Girls’ Education South Sudan (GESS) and the Global Partnership for Education which is a partnership and funding platform donated funds to enable distribution of water sanitation and hygiene supplies, thermometers, reusable masks and menstrual hygiene management kits.
The country’s government in collaboration with GESS will pay capitation grants, in addition to cash transfers, to girls at levels, primary 5 to senior 4.
All schools in South Sudan were closed in March 2020, as the government reopened them in phases with final year students allowed to attend classes in October 2020.
A newsmaker, reporter and anchor at Pearl Radio, Ndalilah Sharon is witty and savvy.
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