Africa-Press – South-Sudan. President Salva Kiir has called on parents to ensure that every child of school-going age is enrolled in school.
The president said the government has taken a proactive approach to eradicate illiteracy in the country.
Speaking during a public rally in Wau Town over the weekend, the head of state appealed to the parents to support the government’s program of free education.
“No child should stay at home without being taken to school. I urged you to take all [children], especially girls, to school,” Kiir said, as quoted by the Presidential Press Unit.
Kiir, who addressed citizens at Wau Stadium after attending a centenary celebration in Kuajok, a Warrap State, said every parent must ensure that all children are accorded a right to education.
“Girls are no longer sold for a high bride price but must go to school and contribute to the development of the country,” Kiir said.
Governor Sarah Cleto Rial said her administration will continue to support the free primary and secondary education that was announced by the president last month.
Cleto said her administration will work toward eradicating early child marriage and instead prioritize the education of the girl-child.
At the same time, Kiir also directed the ministry of roads and bridges to tarmac the roads within Wau town and promised sustainable peace to the Wau residents.
“I have noticed the condition of your roads…we have constructed the Juba-Bor Road that connects Malakal to Ayod and Renk. I now direct the Minister of Roads and Bridges to tarmac roads within Wau town,” added the president, who returned to her home county for the first time since 2019.
According to Countrymeter.info, just about 2,169,639 persons (31.99 per cent) adult population (aged 15 years and above) in South Sudan are able to read and write. Accordingly, about 4.6 of the 11 million adults are illiterate.
The literacy rate for the adult male population is 38.62 per cent (1,311,786 persons) and 25.34 per cent in female respectively.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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