A previous version of this blog was published on the Save the Children’s website.
South Sudan: Transforming education with flood-resistant classrooms
October 24, 2024
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2 minutes read
A GPE-supported program is helping the Ministry of education of South Sudan to build flood-resilient classrooms and strengthen resilience among communities to ensure learning continuity during the flood season.
“The construction of flood-resilient classrooms has had a broader impact beyond an increase in the number of new students. It has improved the school’s sanitation, with the installation of rainwater harvesting facilities and the completion of two latrines for boys and girls equipped with handwashing facilities. This has resulted in a clean and healthy learning environment.”
Mayom Primary School is one of 22 schools that have been constructed or rehabilitated as part of the government’s initiative to establish climate-resilient learning spaces in flood-affected areas of South Sudan.
Flooding and drought have long been a feature of life in South Sudan, but climate change is increasing the frequency, suddenness and strength of these hazards.
With support from GPE and Save the Children, the Ministry of General Education and Instruction has built flood-resilient classrooms and is strengthening resilience among communities through early warning systems, preparedness and response planning.
The interventions help ensure that children do not miss school during the flood season and have led to an increase in the number of children attending school.
“Previously, educational opportunities were scarce for children in this remote community. Now, over 600 students are enrolled in Mariel Kuel, eager to learn and grow."
Related interventions include:
- Remedial classes and learning materials, including books and school bags, for learners whose education has been disrupted by flooding
- Capacity building for school management committees and parent teacher associations in disaster risk reduction and management
- Establishment of school environmental clubs to carry out activities, such as tree planting, watering and protection, ensuring proper sanitation and hygiene practices within schools, and preventing littering.
Rising above the floods
This was made possible by a GPE grant of US$10 million for 2023-2025, managed by Save the Children, as additional financing to the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Multi-Year Resilience Program (MYRP).
The funding has helped South Sudan ensure that the most vulnerable crisis-affected girls and boys have equitable and uninterrupted access to safe and protective, quality learning.
Further enhancing capacity to mainstream climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability into education, South Sudan is receiving support from GPE's Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative, supported by Save the Children, UNESCO and UNESCO IIEP; and from BRACE—Building the Climate Resilience of Children and Communities through the Education Sector—a financing mechanism jointly launched by GPE, The Green Climate Fund and Save the Children at COP 28 in 2023.