South Sudan, UN launch $11.9M project to boost literacy skills

By Daniel Majak

South Sudan’s Ministry of Education has partnered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to launch a project to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and training programs in the country.

The 4-year $11.9 million project aims at empowering youths, young women, teachers and returnees.

It will be implemented by nine line ministries in collaboration with the country’s general education ministry.

“Skills are vital for poverty reduction, for private sector development, job creation and self-employment in particularly for youth. Skills are essential in the achievement of the sustainable development goals,” Hubert Gijzen, UNESCO’s East Africa regional representative said during the launch in Juba.

Gijzen urged South Sudan to adopt the policy integrating literacy into all Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVECT) targeting young people, noting that the reconstruction of a nation starts with the capacity building of man power.

“Now is the time to build local capacities to expedite sustainable development in the country,” he said.

The project is expected to reach out to 45,000 recipients including 13,000 youths of which 60 percent will be women and girls, Gijzen said.

“It will also reach to 2,000 teachers,” he said.

According to the Minister of General Education and Instruction, Awut Deng Achuil, the project will have huge impact on the recipients.

“The project has huge potential for the country that goes beyond provision of skills and education,” Achuil said at the launch.