By Ngor Deng Matem
South Sudan minister of Investment, Dr. Dhieu Mathok Diing has encouraged citizens to allow their daughters and wives enroll in universities and colleges.
“We are very sorry to see only three ladies among 48 grandaunts whose academic achievements, we are celebrating today from the University of Bahr El Ghazal,” the minister said.
Dr. Dhieu was speaking at a graduation ceremony organized by Association of Northern Bahar Ghazel state students Association in the University of Bahr El Ghazal.
The occasion aimed at honoring grandaunts from different universities and higher institutions of learning.
He noted that it was unfortunate to have only three female grandaunts while women constitute bigger population of the state than men.
The minister calls for an assessment to find out the causes of limited number of female students at higher levels of learning, yet partners offer support to girl child education.
“We need to address this seriously and to take at the level of policy to know the reasons why the ladies are less in the universities and among the people graduating” he tasked.
He stressed that the state and national governments should address root causes of the ender disparate in education as well as issues of school dropouts.
For his part, Northern Bahr El Ghazal governor, Tong Akeen urged the public to support female education.
“We always talk about the importance of girl child education here on this ground and it is surprising to see only three ladies from Aweil having completed their studies,” he stressed.
He reiterated the call to allow women and girls to go for university studies just like the boys and men.
“Important of education is to eradicate hunger and diseases. So, let’s prioritize education by supporting it,” the governor emphasized.
According to Aweil university students Association, Lakes state takes lead in enrolment of students to the University of Bahr El Ghazal.
Meanwhile, Warrap becomes the second and then Northern Bahar El Ghazel state take the last position in the Bahar Ghazel region.
The students’ representative, Piol Thiep Piol said that sending children to universities after completion of secondary education needs collective efforts.