Report: Only 1% Of Youths Are Enrolled In Vocational Programs Only 1% of the youths in South Sudan are enrolled into vocational training and tertiary education opportunities. A report has revealed after a research carried out in Central Equatoria State.10 April 2011 Screen capture of the launched report, Juba [©Gurtong] By Waakhe Simon Wudu JUBA, 8th April, 2011 [Gurtong] - Only 1% of the youths in South Sudan are enrolled into vocational training and tertiary education opportunities. A report has revealed after a research carried out in Central Equatoria State.
The report explored several issues critically focusing on the education of youths aged between 6-29 years. The report reveals to what extent youths, both males and females are enrolled into schools in the State. The research was carried out by the Population Council in collaboration with the GOSS Ministry of Health, and the Southern Sudan Center for Census, Statistic and Evaluation, SSCCSE, in the four counties of CES selected; Juba, Terekeka, Yei and Lainya. The report entitled “Needs Assessment of Young People in Central Equatoria State” indicated that, 38% of males and 58% of females aged 15-19 years in Central Equatoria have never attended school.” The research explored children between the ages of 6-29 of age. In depth, according to a National House Hold Survey, NBHS, carried out in 2009, it explains that, of the 15-19 years old youths in the total CES population 1,712: 62% males attended school and 38% never attended.1,682 females: 42% attended schools and 58% never attended. According to the report’s key State indicators, the Education Management Information System, EMSI, revealed that Terekeka County had a population of 34,020 children aged between 6-13 years. A total of 13.2% students enrolled in schools. The County had 36 and 3 primary and secondary schools recorded respectively. The report highlights the same for all other Counties. It further identifies various causes for the unfair school enrollment in the State. The State policy of downsizing civil servants which took effect in April 2010 rendered several teachers and health workers redundant, as they were subsequently dismissed. It significantly reduced the number of teachers. Families were unable to pay school fees, long distance to schools that presented opportunities for vices like robbery have been identified as other related factors to the unfair enrollment. It described the situation especially in Lainya as “multifaceted”. Lack of Parental support and traditional ideologies were identified as some of the contributing negative factors. The report suggested that there was need for general education in all fields, targeting all males and females students. There was need to diversify key courses such as Computer, Secretariat, Nursing, Block making, Tailoring, Carpentry, Building, Agriculture and English to prepare the youths for greater opportunities and careers in the region. The report recommended that the low level of education will not only restrict the employment opportunities of South Sudanese youths, but also leave some, particularly males, vulnerable to recruitment in militias due to lack of alternative opportunities. Posted in: Home -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
