22 schools operate under trees in Northern Bhar El Ghazal

By Hou Akot Hou

Several hundreds of learners in 22 schools in Northern Bhar El Ghazal State are studying under trees due to lack of permanent structures.

This was revealed by Peter Deng Deng, the Acting Director General for Education in Northern Bhar El Ghazal State in an interview with Juba Echo on Monday in Aweil town.

“I want to assure the public that 22 schools are working under trees in the state,” Deng said. The affected schools are both primary and secondary schools.

Deng said they have so far managed to renovate about 40 schools such as Yargot secondary school in Aweil East County and Panthou secondary school among others.

 “What I want to tell the public is that our people keep learners at home and I don’t know why they are doing this. It is made public that all schools are working without any money asked from the learners,” he said.

President Salva Kiir recently announced free universal education for learners in both primary and secondary schools, but some public schools continue to charge fees which have forced some learners to stay out of school.

Deng urged parents to send their children to school despite the existing infrastructure challenges in some of these schools.

He said that some of these schools are in sorry state due to the fact that some of their roofs were blown off by wind, in addition to heavy flooding destroying some of the schools over the past years.

Deng called for support from the national government and development partners to build proper school structures in the state.