Government flags off distribution of 112 million textbooks

The government and education partners have launched the distribution of first locally processed teaching guide textbooks to schools in the country.

The 112 million textbooks—printed by RAK Media Group—will go out to benefit a total of 3, 700 schools across South Sudan.

More than 15 million children including 1, 449,219 pupils in 3, 391 primary schools and 109, 854 students in 401 secondary schools will be expected to benefit from the initiative. The distribution targets states like Lakes, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity and Warrap.

This is a part of the back to school campaign led by the Save the Children organisation in partnership with Norwegian Refugee Council, Finn Church Aid and the ministry of general education and instruction. The funding has also been provided by Education Cannot Wait.    

Speaking at the launch of the textbooks on Wednesday, the Minister of General Education and Instruction Awut Deng Achuil said the materials will ensure quality learning for students across South Sudan.

She added that the program also sought to enhance social distancing among learners upon reopening.

“Availability of enough textbooks is going to be the key in our collaboration to the reopening of schools this year … this is one of the projects that will make possible for us to observe COVID-19 protocols,” said the minister.

Save the Children Country Director for South Sudan Rama Hanraj said the textbooks will solve the challenge affecting quality learning in South Sudan. 

‘‘Many children are not learning in South Sudan and one of the main factors is that both learners and teachers do not have access to adequate reference materials, guides or textbooks that they need to effectively facilitate quality learning and teaching,” she said.

Adding: “We believe that these 112 million textbooks will reduce the [bigger] pupil-textbook ratio thereby allowing more children to get access to textbooks.”