By James innocent
A delegation of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and government officials inspected a $50,000 classrooms construction in Yei.
Yei Day Secondary school block is a key component of Support for Peace and Education Development Programme.
The team was led by James Mugo Murihithi, UNMISS team leader in Yei, along with the visiting dignitaries.
Njoki Kinyanjui, the head of the UNMISS field office in Juba, emphasized that their priority in the county is to improve educational facilities in light of the increasing number of refugees returning from Uganda and Congo.
She noted that the new buildings would not only enhance the school’s infrastructure but also encourage young girls to pursue education.
Kinyanjui praised the contractor for the swift progress on the project.
“This initiative targets all ten states of South Sudan, and Yei is a key focus area for the construction of these educational facilities,” she explained.
The education official from Yei River County expressed appreciation to UNMISS for supporting the construction at Yei Day Secondary School, affirming that without their assistance, such projects would not be possible.
Juan Margret Lomora, the education director of Yei River County, reflected on the school’s history, noting that Yei Day was known as “Junior” before the 1980s and has since grown into an important government institution.
She expressed concern about the lack of resources from partners in previous years but commended UNMISS for its commitment to improving the education system by providing additional classrooms, especially as student enrollment has surged to 700.
Lomora also urged partners to construct a fence around the school to prevent unauthorized access and called on local chiefs to enhance security, as there have been incidents of vandalism, including broken windows.
“We are very grateful to UNMISS for supporting this initiative, and we expect high-quality work from the contractor so that our achievements are remembered in history,” she added.
Lawuro Okello, a member of the Protection, Transition, and Integration (PTR) committee, requested the installation of a lightning arrester to protect the school from thunderstorms.
He reassured construction partners of their commitment to building a strong facility to prevent future structural issues.
The total budget for the project is $50,000, designated for the completion of one building for each project.
Construction is expected to conclude before the beginning of June, and implementing partners have requested ten weeks to ensure the project is fully completed.
In related news, during the inspection, Yeka Levi, who works with the Support for Peace and Education Development Program in Yei, stated that they are working diligently to complete the building before the end of the month.
He also acknowledged the county education department and UNMISS officials for their continued support in overseeing the construction of the classroom blocks at Yei Day Senior Secondary School.
The UNMISS, government officials, and the Support for Peace and Education Development Program collectively inspected the ongoing three-classroom block construction at Yei Day Senior Secondary School.