By Manas James
Jonglei State government has launched a Back-to-Learning campaign in the state capital, Bor to encourage the enrollment of school-age children and dropouts.
Addressing citizens who gathered to attend Tuesday’s launching ceremony, Gabriel Deng Ajak, the state education minister, emphasized the importance of education in the country’s development.
“Without education, you will not have doctors in hospitals. Without education, you will not have engineers constructing our roads,” he stressed,
He said that education is the only tool that transforms human life.
The state minister urged parents to have their children enrolled in school, saying education is the only beacon of hope for the country’s social, economic, and political development.
William Kuol Chol, the state gender and social welfare minister, appealed for support for the education sector.
“We fought in the bush for the right of our children to come to school that is why we have our nation. We build our nation and congratulate ourselves because we struggled for the future of our country. So, we need to bring up these young children,” he stressed.
Michael Martin, a UNICEF representative, said the UN agency is committed to supporting the government’s Back-to-Learning program and called on parents to promote girl education.
He said education is a right for every citizen.
According to the transitional constitution, governments shall promote education at all levels, and ensure free, compulsory education at primary level and free illiteracy eradication programs.