The educational system of South Sudan is patterned on that of North Sudan, as they were one country until 2011. Primary school is an eight-year program that is followed by four years of secondary school, and then a university education if continued. However, the primary language of instruction in South Sudan is English, whereas Arabic is used in North Sudan.
While there are about eight hundred primary schools in South Sudan, many years of war has destroyed or damaged several of its schools. The region that is now South Sudan was involved in two protracted civil wars prior to its secession from North Sudan and has since been involved in a South Sudanese Civil War that is continuing, as of this writing. Additionally, many of the country's teachers were among those seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
Although many internal and international efforts are in place to rebuild the country's schools, some of its school operate outdoors, in the open, under trees, or in temporary shelters. Primary school is free to South Sudanese children, from the ages of six to thirteen.
However, it is estimated that fewer than one percent of girls complete primary school. Only one in every four children enrolled in primary school is female, and the female illiteracy rate in South Sudan is the highest in the world.
In South Sudan, the secondary school includes 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. In these grades, subjects such as biology, chemistry, geography, and physics are introduced, along with others. Students in secondary school are from fourteen to eighteen years of age, much as in the United States. In South Sudan, there is a very high drop-out rate due to truancy among boys. Very few girls go on to secondary school and pregnancy is a common cause for dropping out of school.
After graduation from secondary school, vocational schools and universities are options, although there is a shortage of both. Like many other countries, emphasis is often placed on completing a university education rather than attaining the more accessible skills that can be acquired in a vocational or technical college.
There is a need in South Sudan for more vocational schools, as the country's infrastructure is in need of rebuilding, and the maintenance of its roads, houses, water treatment facilities, sewage systems, telecommunications systems, and electrical plants will require trained construction workers, carpenters and builders, technicians, people trained in computer and telecommunications skills, and electricians.
As of this writing, there are seven public universities and five private universities in South Sudan, and about 25,000 registered students at a given time. The South Sudanese government provides food and housing for university students. As there is in the primary and secondary grades, there is a shortage of university teachers in South Sudan. Prior to secession, most of the country's universities were in Khartoum, and about 75% of its university teachers are from North Sudan.
The indications are that the South Sudan government has an interest in education, and would like to make this a priority for the nation, but the country is in the midst of a civil war, and money is tight.
The Government of the Republic of South Sudan includes three cabinet positions that have an impact on the country's educational system. These are the Ministry of Youth Sports and Recreation, the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
As a British colony from 1899 to 1956, very little emphasis was placed on education by the British overseers. Christian missionaries provided some schooling, but it was haphazard and failed to help many of its students to achieve permanent literacy. While South Sudan was part of North Sudan, the Christian schools were closed by the Islamic Sudanese government and replaced by schools that used Arabic rather than local languages. They were also based in urban areas, and not accessible to most students in the South. Then there were the many years of war.
Today, the problems faced by the educational system of South Sudan can be attributed to a lack of funds and infrastructure, compounded by a largely poor and illiterate population, and a cultural tradition that de-emphasizes the importance of an education for women. Girls are generally enrolled later and removed earlier from primary school than are boys. Primary school graduation rates are low for boys, but far lower for girls. Female students who complete primary school are often encouraged to marry, rather than to continue on to secondary school, or that decision is made for them through pregnancy.
The international community has come forward, including various UN agencies, NGOs, and Western nations, both officially and through private foundations.
Recommended Resources
Based in Pittsford, New York, in the United States, the non-profit organization was founded by two cousins from South Sudan who had escaped to Ethiopia, then Kenya, and eventually to the United States, where they received advanced degrees. Returning to South Sudan in 2007, they found it devastated by war, and are working to build schools and provide educational opportunities for students in their home village. Project reports are posted, and contributions are solicited.
http://www.bmiss.org/
Cambridge International School South Sudan
Located in Juba, South Sudan, the school uses the National Curriculum for England, an internationally recognized curriculum to Year 13. Its history, accreditation and recognition, administrative contacts, faculty and staff, and an overview of the campus are set forth, along with its admissions policies, tuition, academic programs, and career guidance services are posted, and a private login for students and staff is included.
http://cissouthsudan.com/
Catholic University of South Sudan
CUofSS has two campuses in South Sudan, one in Juba, the other in Wau. Established in 2008, the institution is associated with the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, which currently awards degrees to graduates from CUofSS. Its admissions policies and registration procedures, tuition and fees, faculty requirements, general guidelines, and academic programs are highlighted, with a list of student clubs, its sports programs, code of conduct, and graduation lists.
http://www.cuofss.org/
GESS is a six-year program, from April of 2013 to September of 2018, that hopes to transform a generation of girls in South Sudan through increased access to quality education. The ways in which the organization intends to do this are discussed, including the activities required, where it will be working, and who will benefit from it. Education statistics, management information, photographs, and schedules are featured.
http://girlseducationsouthsudan.org/
PESS is headed by a South Sudanese boy who had to flee his country, and was later educated in the United States, where he became a citizen and is now working to improve the educational system of South Sudan, and particularly in partnering with South Sudanese communities to educate their girls, create new leaders, and restore the educational infrastructure of the country. Its work is highlighted, and opportunities to help are set forth.
http://projecteducationsouthsudan.org/
Maintained by World Education Network, a network of more than two hundred educational portals, the site offers a directory of colleges and universities in South Sudan, as well as other resources relating to education, such as a college planning guide, career guide, distance learning options, the various modes of education, international tests, funding options, and world university rankings.
http://www.southsudaneducation.info/
After twelve years in a refugee camp in Kenya, Samuel Manhom made his way to Australia and now wants to build a primary school for his former home community of Rumbek, South Sudan. Promised support from Rotary International, he is moving forward with his plans. The local community has granted the land, plans have been drawn, and the Lakes State government has also promised support, and the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek will provide teachers and take on the operation of the school.
https://southsudanschool.org/
Starford International University College
SIUC is a private university in the Hai Malakal area of Juba, South Sudan. Established in 2016, the institution currently offers three faculties and two colleges, which are highlighted here, along with its degree programs, training programs, and management systems. Its admissions policies and requirements, fees and tuition, administrative contacts, schedules, and announcements are posted to the site.
http://thestarford.com/
The American School of South Sudan
Beginning in 2009 as Juba Kidz Zone, a nursery school in Juba, South Sudan, the school expanded to a full PK-12th-grade program, taking its current name, in 2013, but soon had to shut down because of war. Reopening as a PK-1st-grade school in 2015, it hopes to expand to a PK-12th-grade school once again by 2020. Its history and information about its struggles and needs are set forth, with a plea for contributions.
http://www.theamericanschoolofsouthsudan.com/
Founded in 1975, UJ is a public university in Juba South Sudan. During the Second Sudanese Civil War, it relocated to Khartoum but returned to Juba following South Sudan’s independence in 2011. Offering instruction in the English language, the university’s programs, colleges, and centers are set forth, along with its directorates, strategic goals, calendar, and administrative contacts.
http://jubauni.net/
