The Government has appealed to parents and guardians to ensure school-going children are back in class. But parallel to that call to action is an underlying problem where learners have remained at home thanks to the lengthy closure of the learning institutions and restless teachers finding it harder to continue with their duties.

The schools were re-opened last week after a year of closure to contain the spread of COVID-19.

In an address at Juba One Boys Primary School in Juba Monday, the Minister of General Education and Instruction, Awut Deng Aquil, said it was the role of parents to ensure that children attain education. 

“This is our responsibility as parents, to ensure that our children are encouraged and supported to return back to school today [Monday]. This is the key message you should give considerable attention,” Acuil said.

The Minister said as the COVID-19 pandemic still lingers and learners would still be advised to observe all the safety measures implemented by the ministry of health.

“Making sure that each one of us has to play a role that is divided to a personal level, you have to make sure that you are wearing the mask, washing your hands and keeping the social and physical distancing… it will keep our schools open and if we don’t do that, we will go back to lockdown and that is not good for education,” she said.

To teachers who have gone for months without pay and with many unable to report for duties due to financial incapacitation, Acuil said the government was seized with the matter and will work to address it.

“We know that the economic situation is not good but we have to take a step to ensure that conditions of services are improved for teachers to be able to stand in class,” she said.

Acuil revealed that the ministry, in partnership with development partners had printed 3.2 million textbooks to reduce the children’s ratio from books 1:19 to 1:1.

Full capacity not yet

But as it is now, many learners are yet to resume studies after being hit by the blues of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The situation now threatens a registration of widespread school dropout cases.

The City Review caught up with a student at Supiri Secondary School who shared an observation that many of her colleagues were yet to return to school since the reopening of schools.

Jane Wani (not her real name), who is a senior three student, said there is fear that majority of her colleagues may not make to school after missing out in the re-opening.

“My name is Jane Wani, I am studying here at Supiri Secondary school. Last year students did not study because of coronavirus but now, there are only few students who will come to school,” she said.

Having been at home herself, she said staing at home presented a lot of idleness which may have caused her colleagues to indulge in evil activities such as drugs abuse and criminal acts.

“There are no people but it is a good thing the government has opened schools. When schools were still closed, staying at home was not good at all. One could even think about doing bad things,” she said.

She urged her colleagues to join school instead of choosing to remain at home because COVID-19 effects.

“Those who are still at home, let them come to school. Let them not think they are getting older, there is no age limit in education.”

“Most of my age-mates got pregnant and some also got married. They say since there is no school is better for them to get married,” she lamented.

She advised her colleagues not to consider marriage a priority that could solve their personal issues.

“Let them come back to school, there where they run for marriage, there is nothing better. The husband will beat you because she is still young, it is better they come back to school,” she said.

Wani is determined to pursue her studies with a drive that she will earn her respect in the society after accomplishing her dream.

Her sentiments are shared by Emmanuel Jambo Juma, who promised to convince his friends to get back to school to consider rejoining learning process.

But he said ‘‘you cannot force someone to go to school…what I will do is just to advise them.’’

Reported by Joseph Loful and Sheila Ponnie