Education for girls in South Sudan hailed a success after hitting one million enrollment

By Adia Jildo

The phase one and two of the Girls Education in South Sudan (GESS) program has achieved it’s target of enrolling one million girls in the country since it’s inception in 2014.

Alfred Laku, the deputy head teacher for Juba Girl’s Secondary School, says the program where girls receive cash transfer to meet their basic requirements in school has been a success.

Laku says the program has banished traditional beliefs and customs that were holding back girls’ education.

“The cash transfers encourages girls to stay in school, there is no unnecessary dropouts,” he told Juba Echo in Juba on Wednesday.

The Girls’ Education in South Sudan program is funded by the United Kingdom government, USA, Canada, Sweden and European Union.

Laku says Juba girls’ secondary school has over 350 girls registered for cash transfers to enhance their livelihood.

 He says despite the money being little, it has had positive impact on the beneficiaries.

“GESS program is very encouraging, and girls today are completing their classes. I hope the program reaches to the higher institutions,” Laku says.

“This program has actually achieved the target, no more dropouts, instead the number of girls in school is increasing than the boys,” he adds.

Achan Abuk, a beneficiary of cash transfer from GESS, said she dropped out of school following outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

She enrolled for the cash transfer program in 2015.

“I had no money to return to Juba and resume my education,” she says.

Abuk left Juba for her rural village during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has since resumed her studies due to cash transfers from GESS.

 “I returned to Juba and resumed my Senior 3 studies so that I can perform well. It is better now in school because I am assured of a transformation towards my life because my family is supportive in my studies.”

Abuk received her cash transfer in 2022 through a friend that helped her return to Juba.

Diana David Daniel, a senior one student who has benefitted from the program expressed shock upon learning it was soon winding down.

Daniel says she has been using her money to buy sanitary pads, scholastic materials and other essential items like shoes that have motivated to continue in school.

Another student, Joyce Akumu, says she started benefiting from the program while still in her Primary eight class.

“When I started receiving the money I was able to pay for my school fees,” she said.

“I feel so sad that the program is soon winding up because I hope to continue with my studies uninterrupted,” Akumu says.

She called on the government to fill the gap left when GESS program ends.

 Kobi Bentley, the humanitarian and development director in British Embassy in South Sudan, says the program is helping young girls continue with their school as they have been able to get the necessary tools needed.

“We know that cash transfer is having an impact on the lives of these girls, helps girls stay in school and enable them to get what they need to come to school,” Bentley says.

She called on the government to invest more in girls’ education in the country.

“The program coming to an end is part of the normal programming, though other programs will come in to reach the further ends of the country through education,” Bentley says.

Richard K. Adzei, the Office Director for Education and Youth in USAID, says the cash transfer has helped girls to be able to get what they need in school.

“The money is fair, first they are in secondary school, they want to strive, they want to succeed and excel. The money they receive is about 10 percent which they said it can not cover all they want,” he says.

He called on the national government to step in and support girls’ education as the second phase of the Girls’ Education in South Sudan concludes.

“We are marking one million girls reached in South Sudan which is a huge accomplishment and they are appreciative of that,” he says.

Adzei says reaching the one million mark should be reason enough for the national transitional government to fill up the void.

“As donors we are doing the best we can do to help, but it is not in our ability to do it all,” he said.