The Ministry of General Education and Instruction has printed 1.3 million books locally to restock the libraries and increase learning resources across the country.

Addressing the press at Rak Media printing press in Juba, where the books are being printed, education minister Awut Deng Acuil said the primary and secondary books will be transported to various parts of the country and distributed.

She hailed the local printing press for simplifying the process and helping the government to save on cost that would have piled up if the materials were imported.

She said, ‘‘This is a proof to show that a South Sudanese company can print books. People doubted the country’s printing capability but this is a testament that our local printers are able to do credible job.’’

She said the initiative is crucial for the learners across the country because they will be able to access the materials easily.

Holding mathematics and english textbooks, the minister said ‘a national curriculum was finally being printed in South Sudan.’

‘‘I have already visited the trucks which are already loaded and the storage where these books are done by sons and daughters of South Sudanese and their colleagues outside South Sudan,’’ she said.

She added that the government would continue producing books locally so that they can easily be transported to the states for education purposes.

Acuil thanked UNICEF, Save the Children, RaK Media and Education Cannot Wait for funding the production.