WAR TAKES ITS TOLL ON EDUCATION
The civil war that has been raging on in Sudan since 1983 has inflicted
devastating consequences on the southern part of the country. Thousands of
people have been killed and others wounded, while opportunities for developing
and sustaining adequate educational facilities have been reduced drastically.
Consequently, most southern Sudanese have fled from one area to another in
search of some reprieve. According to a recent publication by Radda Barnen
entitled: Dare to Hope: Children of war in Southern Sudan, amongst these
displaced people, a huge number is made up of youngsters who have been
wandering since the mid 80s, escaping insecurity and desperation, but mostly in
search of formal education, now only available regularly in the refugee camps.
In areas as far as northern Bahr-el-Ghazal, children have been exposed to
atrocities in violent attacks especially by the Sudanese army. They have felt
hunger, drought, thirst, exhaustion and disease. The on-going civil war has
seriously disrupted the provision of education services. When it began, most
schools in rural areas of the south ceased to function. In 1989, the Sudan
Relief and Rehabilitation Association (SRRA) based in Nairobi, Kenya's capital,
initiated the re-establishment of self-help community schools in the areas
under the control of rebel group Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA).
Access to primary education remains low throughout the Sudan. The national
average for children completing four years of basic education in the country is
put at 44 per cent. Enrolment rates for the whole of the Sudan are 58 per cent
for boys and 43 per cent for girls, according to UNICEF sources. Of the
estimated 1 million primary school-age children, only 30 per cent receive basic
education. For every five boys, there is only one girl in school, says UNICEF.
The community schools continue to operate under very difficult circumstances.
UNICEF and several Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) have been trying to
support the schools despite serious shortages especially of text books.
Between 1989 and 1992, UNICEF spent about $110 000 on school materials, hardly
covering 50 per cent of the schools. Between January and October 1993, 730 kits
consisting of such necessities as pens, pencils, chalk, blackboard, paint and
exercise books were distributed. One kit contains enough material for 200
children for a school year. In 1994, thanks to a generous contribution from the
Japanese government, the educational programme managed to expand enough to
supply basic education materials to all functioning schools in southern Sudan.
In addition, a major effort was undertaken by UNICEF and other NGOs to improve
the quality of education through teacher training courses. For the first time
since the development of the Southern Sudan education data base, over 700
primary schools have recorded a major increase in the enrolment of children and
the opening of new schools. Unfortunately, in other areas, schools were closed
temporarily due to fighting. In Ayod Waat, in the upper Nile region and Akon in
Bahr-el-Ghazal region. The total number of children in schools was estimated at
300, 000 and the number of schools at 1,287 as at October 1996. In 700 schools,
there were 3,652 teachers, 2,467 males and 1,185 females. The preparations for
the teacher training programme started in September 1993 with the workshop on
Curriculum and Syllabus held in Kenyan town of Lokichogio. A committee has been
set up to draft a curriculum development programme to help those children who
are already studying, using either the Kenyan or Ugandan syllabi. A teacher
education programme developed in 1994 trains primary school teachers using
modules of an advanced standard over five weeks. Completion of these courses
qualifies them to train others on similar courses. Last year, 1, 200 Sudanese
primary school teachers received training in various subjects. A sensitisation
paper on girls' education has been introduced. But more than 50 per cent of
primary school age population is out of school due of lack of schools, trained
teachers, school materials and insecurity. Food scarcity and the absence of
accommodation for teachers are other bottlenecks. The war also has caused a lot
of destruction in technological fields. Traditional technology has been
disrupted. General displacement and loss of the traditional artisans, tools and
crafts have resulted in over-dependence on personnel and material from outside.
But education continues in southern Sudan despite the woes. The community has
been participating and are involved in decision making through Parents Teachers
Associations (PTAs). They contribute effectively to the self- help programmes
where they are mobilised to carry out work that benefit them in the fields of
health, education and agriculture. UNICEF and other NGOs have been organising
gender workshops to educate the people on gender sensitivity in order to change
attitudes. Some community leaders now realise the importance of educating
girls. But parents are generally apprehensive about their daughters walking
long distances to and from schools as they could be raped by their male
colleagues or the soldiers.
by Santino Makur Kot
SUDANESE WOMEN MEET IN NAIROBI
The Sudanese Women Association in Nairobi (SWAN) held a
colourful cultural event at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in
Nairobi, Kenya, on November 30 in which over 50 women participated. Dr. Pauline
Riak, the chairperson of SWAN, told the gathering at KICC: "When social
disintegration occurs in the society, women are expected to build relationships
and the social fabric of human living through care and nurturing. The physical
and psychological costs are high as women try to build stable lives amidst the
massive internal and external population movements that are occurring." Another
problem common to SWAN members is violence against women. "Domestic violence
not only causes women and children physical and psychological suffering, but is
also a major obstacle to individual growth and women's participation in
development," Dr. Riak said. SWAN is unique in that it was conceived, developed
and managed by urban refugees without initial prompting or input from other
individuals. Further, its members are heterogeneous and are active participants
in various warring factions inside Sudan. Dr. Riak recognises that Sudan is
still at war. "Our questions have to do with dignified survival and the
struggle for a just peace and national development," she explained. The theme
of the November 30 event was "SWAN IS A SYMBOL OF UNITY AND LOVE'. Participants
came from Nairobi, Kisumu (about 350 kilometres west of Nairobi) and seven
other African countries including Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and
Sudan. Traditional dances were presented, locally made clothes, baskets and
other items were on exhibition and traditional foods were served. SWAN has
organised previous workshops on various topics such as stress control, HIV/AIDS
and self reliance, how to make homes, and participation in nation building.
"Given the conflicts raging among us in the south, the cultural activities are
quite impressive," one member remarked.
For further information, please contact:
Fr. Kizito, SCIO, tel +254.2.562247 - fax +254.2.566668 - e-mail: scio@tt.sasa.unep.no
