Northern Bahr el Ghazal revokes registration of schools over early opening

By Ambrose Achuil Garang

Northern Bahr el Ghazal has revoked the registration certificates for schools which opened early for the new term saying its in violation of the school calender.

The schools affected include New Life Ministry, Ayaktiit, Nyamlel Central, George W Bush, Ayii Duang and Big Pen Education Center.

According to Santino Bol Akot told Juba Echo in an interview that the schools have also been summoned to explain their actions before April when schools reopen.

“We have unified dates for studies and holidays for all the pupils and students and these schools are interfering with our academic calendar for this year, and that is why we issued an order and implemented it by closing the schools,” Akot said.

“All the schools, whether private or public, they operate under the ministry of education, they can’t just open and close schools the way they want,” he said.

“We will pardon them if they accept their mistake.”

Athuai Athuai, the head teacher for Ayaktiit primary school said his school has accepted the state order.

“We opened our school because we have seen many schools in the area have opened but when the county education director asked us to close the school because of the orders by ministry of education, we cooperated, there is no problem,” Athuai said.

Ustaz Maduok Dut, the headteacher for Ayii Duang Primary and Secondary School said the step to open early was because the date for official reopening was far and would affect learning.

“April is so far and when registration begins in April then studying might begin in May and children would not have studied enough for this year,” Dut said, adding, “but since they have closed down our schools until April, we shall abide.”