Minister Awut, South Sudan’s first female Minister of Education, and Dr. Grob-Zakary's extensive expertise in strengthening education equity through evidence and innovation, provide a comprehensive view of South Sudan's educational challenges and triumphs.

As co-authors of this blog, we have come together to share our joint commitment to shaping a resilient and inclusive future for education in South Sudan and beyond.

This commitment was underscored at the recent Global Refugee Forum where we co-hosted a high-level roundtable alongside the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Government of Uganda on strengthening inclusive education systems. In these discussions, we highlighted South Sudan's progress, challenges and ongoing efforts to transform its education system in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).

South Sudan, a nation marked by its resilience and enduring spirit, is at a defining moment in its educational journey: the focus on inclusive quality education is more than a policy – it is a lifeline to thousands of children affected by conflict and displacement, a commitment to rebuilding a nation through the power of learning.

Inclusion as a metric for SDG 4

South Sudan's commitment to inclusive education is deeply interwoven with the pursuit of SDG 4.

Inclusive education is not just a policy goal; it is a vital tool for societal transformation. Recognizing the diverse needs of learners, especially those affected by conflict and displacement, South Sudan strives to create an educational environment where every child can thrive amidst climatic shocks.

Participation in international fora, like the Global Refugee Forum, highlights our dedication to this cause.

Steering through storms

South Sudan’s education system has been severely tested by a series of crises, including conflict and natural disasters. These challenges have disrupted educational access and quality, affecting the lives of countless children. In response, strategies have been developed to ensure education remains accessible and relevant, even in the most challenging circumstances.

These strategies focus on creating resilient educational models that can adapt to and overcome disruptions. This commitment is essential for providing continuous learning opportunities and maintaining educational progress for all students, especially those in crisis-affected areas.

The beacon of hope: South Sudan’s journey

South Sudan's educational journey, amidst its complex challenges, stands as a beacon of hope. Its efforts to reform and strengthen the education system focus on reaching the most marginalized learners, including those affected by conflicts and natural disasters, making significant strides, village by village, county by county, in bringing education to all.

This approach exemplifies the transformative power of education in rebuilding a nation and fostering a brighter future for all.

Accelerated education programs

Accelerated Education Programs are important tools for inclusion, catering to learners who have missed significant schooling or had their education interrupted by poverty, marginalization, conflict and crisis. They are flexible, age-appropriate, run in an accelerated timeframe and aim to provide access to education for disadvantaged, over-age, out-of-school children and youth.

These accelerated programs provide learners with equivalent, certified competencies for basic education by using effective teaching and learning approaches that match the students’ level of cognitive maturity instead of their expected grade level.

Education.org’s recent synthesis and policy guidance is a key resource for governments committed to implementing evidence-informed measures to strengthen inclusion. This work shares many country case examples, including a spotlight on South Sudan.

Recognition as a host country: Challenges in supporting refugees

South Sudan's lack of official recognition as a refugee host country, despite hosting refugees, presents unique challenges in our educational landscape. Despite significant efforts to integrate refugee children into the national education system, the lack of formal recognition as a host country impacts South Sudan’s ability to access broader international support.

This recognition is crucial to ensure the government and its partners can provide comprehensive educational services to both local students and the refugee population. Advocating for this status at platforms like the Global Refugee Forum is part of the strategy to seek the necessary support and resources to cater effectively to all learners within South Sudan’s borders.

The global community’s support for South Sudan

External support and partnership with organizations such as Education.org and the GPE have been fundamental in enhancing our educational infrastructure—a key element in a country rebuilding from years of conflict.

Their support encompasses financial aid, capacity strengthening and assistance in policy development, aligning with our national objectives to improve the accessibility, quality and management of education. These partnerships exemplify the value of global collaboration in addressing educational challenges and is vital for countries like South Sudan, working towards building a resilient and inclusive education system.

Envisioning a brighter future for education in South Sudan

As we look towards the future, South Sudan is committed to building an inclusive, resilient and quality education system. This journey, though filled with challenges, is driven by a strong resolve to provide every child with the opportunity to learn and grow.

Partnerships, reforms and education initiatives, especially those focused on out-of-school children and refugee education, are steps towards realizing this vision and underscore our commitment to ensuring every child and young person can access education and build the foundational and socio-emotional skills to thrive.

Recognition of South Sudan as a host country is also crucial to ensuring the government and its partners can provide comprehensive educational services to all learners.