UNHCRs education challenges in Southern Sudan

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UNHCRs education challenges in Southern Sudan

• by Tim Brown
• formerly Education Officer,
• UNHCR, Yei

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About myself

• 13 years lecturing/ teacher training at
  universities in south Sudan and Kenya
• 13 years in education with UNHCR at camp, country
  and HQs levels
• Currently in Sierra Leone with UNICEF on
  countrys EFA FTI proposal

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Sudan-related experience

• 8½ years at university in Juba (1979-1987)
• 4½ years at university in Nairobi (1988-1992)
• 7½ years with UNHCR in Uganda (1992-2000)
• 1½ years with UNHCR in Yei (2005-2006)

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Worlds biggest education emergency

• Sudan is currently at the forefront of the
  international communitys conflict/ post-conflict
  agendas. Forced Migration Review, 24, p.46,
  November 2005

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General background

• Devastated by two civil wars 17 years and 21
  years
• S Sudan is vast region with many different ethnic
  groups
• ½ million refugees and 4 million IDPs have been
  displaced
• Capacity of government weak at all levels most
  government officials still not paid

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General constraints

• Precarious security situation inter-ethnic
  clashes and rebel attacks
• Logistical problems due to bad roads in rainy
  season and landmines/UXOs
• Many spontaneous returnees have caused congestion
  and cholera outbreaks in towns
• Inadequate and irregular funding has hampered
  UNHCRs activities

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UNHCRs achievements

• Building/renovating/expanding schools and
  training centres
• Providing educ materials and equipment
• Training/supporting teachers, students and the
  community
• Promoting education of women and girls
• Sensitising communities on peace building,
  HIV/AIDS, SGBV and gender

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Education challenges

• Lack of education infrastructure, resources and
  qualified personnel
• Low school enrolment and retention
• Many youths and adults have completely missed out
  on education
• Great disparities in education provision between
  geographical locations
• Most schools are temporary or trees

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Education challenges (2)

• Many teachers have not finished their own primary
  education
• Various alternative curricula being used
• English to be language of instruction yet many
  students only know Arabic
• Few post-primary institutions
• Negative attitudes towards vocational skills and
  practical work

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Education challenges (3)

• Huge disparities in girls education worse than
  any country in the world
• Less than 1 of girls complete primary education
• Only 1 schoolchild in 4 is a girl
• Just 7 of teachers are females reinforcing
  gender imbalance
• 90 of females are illiterate

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Lessons learned

• Conditions of return made conducive through C-B
  reintegration projects
• Absorption capacity of schools needs to be
  increased
• Stayees should benefit as well as the returnees
  holistic approach
• Rural areas need development as well as towns

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Lessons learned (2)

• Although weak, MoEST should be supported to take
  responsibilities
• MoEST should be supported at local levels not
  just at central level
• Communities need to be fully involved in
  reintegration projects for sustainability
• Affirmative action is needed to address gender
  disparities

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Affirmative action

• Sensitisation of communities
• Appoint female education coordinators
• Recruit (senior) female teachers
• All training to include gender elements
• Build girls schools and dormitories
• (Partial) scholarships for girls at post-primary
  levels
• Separate latrines, sanitary materials, decent
  clothes

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Opportunities

• Encourage IDPs to return to original homes so
  that occupied land is released
• Education is priority for Sudanese - keen to
  improve their education system
• Sudan is potentially a rich country
• Signing of CPA indicates that people want peace
  to succeed
• Many educated Sudanese in diaspora

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Opportunities (2)

• Many stayee populations are resilient and
  committed
• C-B and local educ activities encourage
  sustainable and equitable development
• New education structures will provide
  opportunities for employment in ed sector
• Ongoing peace talks between Uganda and LRA rebels
  seem heading for success

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Way ahead

• Teachers should be paid by government
• Decentralisation should be supported
• Construction of permanent schools is important
  especially for girls education
• Training of teachers esp in English
• S. Sudan curriculum urgently finalised
• Huge gender disparities to be addressed
• Donors to be educated on relief-devpt gap

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Way ahead (2)

• Fair balance between refugees and stayees in
  education and jobs
• Under-served areas to be prioritised
• Relevant practical skills for job creation should
  be encouraged
• Government to pronounce its policy on vocational
  education
• NGOs move base from Nairobi to S Sudan

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Final thought

• Education is important for everybody especially
  for girls
• It is also a right
• We must develop rights-based approaches to reach
  all marginalised people including females
• Education is expensive but ignorance is more
  expensive in the long run