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February 21, 2012 (BOR) – Conflict over the last two months in South Sudan’s Jonglei State has meant that 14% of students have been unable to sit their exams, according to the state’s education minister Stephen Par Kuol.
The worst affected areas of the conflict in Pibor, Uror, Akobo and some parts of Bor county, had the highest number of children failing to take the exams.
Despite 24% of the 1,375 students who sat the exams in Jonglei failing to pass, the education minister was excited by the results. Illiteracy is a major problem in South Sudan where over 70% of people cannot read or write as a result of neglect and decades on civil war.
A 2005 peace deal led to South Sudan’s independence last year but the new country is struggling to provide security for its civilians. Jonglei state is home to pastoralist communities that often engage in cattle rustling using automatic weapons, many of which are hangover from the Sudanese civil war.
Over 1,000 people died in 2011 alone in Jonglei in raids and counter raids between the Luo Nuer and Murle ethnic groups.
The number killed in the week of fighting that began on Christmas Eve last year when the Luo Nuer advanced on Pibor County is still unclear. The UN have dismissed reports that over 3,000 had died.
A series of retaliatory attacks followed, including an attack on Duk Padiet, a territory belonging to the Dinka Bor tribe that left nearly 100 people killed according to official figures.
VILLAGES V TOWNS
Primary school examination results show that students in village schools often outperformed those in towns, with candidates from Duk Padiet rated the overall best in Jonglei state, according to results released on Monday in Bor.
The 2011 primary school examinations, taken from January 17—18, 2012 and released on Monday by the ministry education appear to show that the insecurity has not affected all areas of life.
“Our children have actually surprised us with excellent results from the exams which they took in the midst of insecurity,” minister Par said.
Around 140,000 people have been affected by the fighting, according to the UN, with many having to flee their homes. The South Sudanese government has declared Jonglei a disaster area.
Duk Padiet Primary was the best performing school in Jonglei with all candidates passing the exams. Bor county schools including Bor Public, Bor ‘B’, Bor ‘C’ and Anyidi girls’ school and Kongor Primary primary in Twic East county were also amongst the top schools.
Some candidates in Bor county did not take the exams due to displacement, minister Par told a local radio station on Monday evening when he formally announced the results.
“But our children have performed very well. There is evidence that actually the quality of education is improving,” minister Par told reporters at the education ministry earlier on Monday.
DISARMAMENT
South Sudan’s army has deployed around 10,000 soldiers and 5,000 police to Jonglei state to stop the violence and to begin disarming civilians. However, it is unclear whether some of the groups in the area, including the Nuer White Army which organised the attack on Pibor will react to the disarmament campaign.
The spokesperson for South Sudan army (SPLA), Col. Philip Aguer, told UN Radio on Monday that disarmament will start soon.
(ST)
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