SOUTH SUDAN: Student Asks Fellow Dropout Learners During Covid-19 Lockdown to Return to School
Moses Okwera, CRN
Rhoda Talata, a student at Dr. John Garang Memorial Senior Secondary School has advised fellow girls who got pregnant during the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown to return to school after delivery.
She said in a report aired by Radio Emmanuel that it is a mandate for every girl child to work hard and complete her education.
“The girls who got pregnant and they are not in school, I would like to tell them that this is not the end of their lives, they should come back to school after delivering. School is important because if you are educated, you will come and help your mother and father,” she said adding, “Some of our parents they are just making alcohol to pay us in school, so when we have not returned what they are giving us is wasted.”
“So, if we got pregnant during the lockdown, let us go back to school after delivery. Yes, since the outbreak, many girls were impregnated but it is important for all girls to know that education is important”, Rhoda appeals.
Also, the Executive Director of Torit County in Eastern Equatoria State Mr Losur has appealed to parents to commit themselves to support the girls and reduce challenges facing them.
He also encourages the ladies to persevere in times of difficulties for a brighter future.
“I am appealing to parents: please, dedicate your small help to your daughter. Let us dedicate ourselves to managing our daughters, our children so that they don’t fall into problems. I am also appealing to our daughters: please persevere and work hard with the small help that your parents might be giving you because your future is great. We love you, the world loves you, Eastern Equatoria state loves you. Persevere so that in the future you may be like these your parents who are here,” said the director.
On her part, a Primary 8 pupil from Airport View Primary School, Aber Gertrude Robert has stated that education for girls is fundamental because educating a girl is like educating the whole South Sudan.
Aber says for the 35 percent representation of women to be achieved in the government, the girls should take education seriously.
“As girls, we are much more important, we have 35% participation but percent we can’t get it if we misuse opportunities and behave recklessly. In order for us to gain that thirty five percent, we have to handle our live as well because if a girl is educated, the nation at large is educated. So let us take education as a priority and set high goals for our lives, which will make us accomplish what is required”, she noted.
Various speakers made their remarks during the celebration of International Girl Child Day and the launch of ending unintended marriage at Torit Freedom Square under the theme “Let’s talk about pregnancy at the right time”.
