Education Partners, Government Launch Back To Learning Campaign In EES

TORIT, 17 April 2015 [Gurtong] –  As part of the countywide initiatives seeking to ensuring all children currently affected by the ongoing conflict across the Country have access to learning opportunities, South Sudan's education partners joined by Eastern Equatoria state government on Friday successfully launched 'Back To Learning Campaign' in Torit state Capital.

About more than 2500 Primary schools marched to the Torit Freedom Square to lead the campaign with a number of dramas being staged.

Acting state Education Minister, Hon. Patrick Lodinga Kotein congratulated the huge number of school-going children who outnumbered the freedom square as he pledged to ensure all children of school-going age have access to quality learning so their future can be bright.

He deeply expressed gratitude to the Education Ministry's Partners in demonstrating their commitments towards the just started campaign on 'Back To Learning Initiative' saying without their stance the government would not have managed to make such tangible endeavors.

The occasion’s Steering Committee Chairperson, Mr. Remijo Gama Cypriano who revealed that 100 Schools have so far been selected for the 'Back To Learning Campaign' program in the state, where overall direct beneficiaries has been recorded at 36,380 pupils for this year 2015.

“Out of this figure, 23,556 and 17,221 are males and females respectively”, he clarified.

Mr. Gama assured the public that the state was expecting the current 36,380 pupils to rise to over 40,000 learners as beneficiaries for the 'Back To Learning Campaign' program in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the State Partners, the UNICEF Program Coordinator Mr. Mikilele Benard publicly encouraged pupils to take the slogan 'Back To Learning' and place it in front of their desk as a reminder of the Campaign always.

He aslo urged the government alongside the partners to defend the future of the children for South Sudan from being jeopardized but clarified this by confidently stating that his agency together with other partners Will continue supporting the initiative by taking the right approach to ensure that all children be able to access learning opportunities.