The United States Embassy in Juba has urged the
transitional administration to provide substantial backing for the advancement
of primary education for girls in the country.
The call comes ahead of the celebrations of the Americans
Mother's Day on Sunday, May 12
The day is marked in the US to honor the significant
influence that mothers have on families and society.
“Girls' full access to education is vitally important to
a country's national economic growth. Unfortunately, in South Sudan, women and
girls are disproportionately affected by the transitional government's failure
to fund basic education for girls,” reads the embassy in statement issued on Thursday.
It says like teachers, mothers are role models for all of
us, giving us the critical skills we need to lead healthy, fulfilling, and
productive lives.
It states that an educated mother is the most important
indicator of family health, economic strength, cohesion, and child well-being.
Studies suggest that each year of a mother's education
reduces the risk an infant will die by 3.7 percent, and a mother's education
level influences that of her children.
More than 2.8 million children, or over 70 percent, are
out of school in South Sudan, putting their futures and the country's future at
risk, according to UNICEF.
It says that some of the out-of-school children live in
pastoral communities, move with their cattle, and are unable to attend regular
classes.
The largest group of out-of-school children in South
Sudan are girls. Poverty, child marriage, and cultural and religious views all
hinder girls' education.
In February 2023, President Salva Kiir directed relevant
government ministries to ensure that primary and secondary education is free
throughout the country.
However, it appears that the concerned government
institutions fail to enforce the directives.
The embassy urges the local authorities to join hands in
fighting against stereotypes.
“We call on South Sudan's transitional government to do
more to end these practices. While we join other donors in supporting the
Girls' Education South Sudan Program.” it stresses.