![CEPO Press Release logo. [Photo courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Gideon-Gatpan-and-Mukalia-Kennedy.png?resize=1640%2C924&quality=80&ssl=1)
This is according to the civil society organization’s Executive Director Edmund Yakani who said that the program was launched on September 18, 2023, after the watchdog’s attention was drawn to four students who dropped out of Juba University over funding.
“Recently CEPO came across the situation of four secondary education certificate students with disabilities who were not able to make success in an intake to the universities in the country,” CEPO said in a statement extended to Sudans Post.
“This situation motivates CEPO to reach out to leadership of University of Juba for special intake of the four students and this intervention succeeded through the remarkable leadership of university of Juba,” added the statement.
According to Activist Yakani, the civil society watchdog’s Disability Education Fund (DEF) was formed during the CEPO’s 10 Days for National Peace Activism initiative held in the capital Juba under theme “Action for Peace” and will be officially launched in late October.
“The DEF will be officially launched on October 29, 2023, during the commemoration of International Day for Care and Support under the theme ‘Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover, Embrace our Stories Instead,’” said Yakani, adding that the initiative is supported by Light of the World South Sudan.
“The event will be held in Juba in collaboration with the government relevant ministries such as Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Ministry of general Education and Instruction, Light for the World, and other partners,” the activist added.
He added. That the program “will support education of children and students with disabilities from vulnerable families at pre-school, basic, vocational, and higher education levels.”
On her part, Sophia Mohamed, the country director of Light of the World South Sudan, the organization partnering with CEPO on the program, said that the aim of the initiative’s program is to support and protect the rights of persons with disabilities as provided for in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
“Inclusive Education is one of the primary and essential intervention for promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities as enshrined in the UNCRPD, which South Sudan is state party to it,” she said.
“Light for the World is committed to ensure that Inclusive Education is prioritized in South Sudan through the establishment of the DEF which will help in translating the country Inclusive Education strategy and policy,” she added.
