![South Sudan's map featuring Greater Pibor Administrative Area (in red) [Photo via Wikipedia]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Pibor.png?resize=850%2C650&quality=80&ssl=1)
This marks progress in a region where education faces significant obstacles, including early and forced marriages, according to the school’s headteacher.
Mary Longole, the headteacher of the school, said the number reflects a modest improvement but highlighted that societal practices continue to hinder girls’ education in Pibor.
“The issue in Pibor here is booking. When a girl reaches primary five to primary eight, they will be taken. We as teachers are not benefiting from teaching; rather, we are facing losses in our efforts,” Longole said in a phone interview with Sudans Post.
She explained that while 15 girls initially registered for the exams, three left to marry before the exams began, leaving only 12 candidates. An additional girl joined during registration, bringing the total to 13.
Longole emphasized the importance of raising awareness in the Pibor community about the value of education, noting that despite support from organizations, parents continue to withdraw their children from school.
“In the beginning of the year, when I registered the pupils, we had 500. But as the term comes to an end, we are left with 400. This is a huge dropout rate from baby class to primary eight,” she said.
She attributed the high dropout rate to early and forced marriages, which she said remain prevalent in Pibor, affecting both enrollment and retention rates.
Lucy Acheng, Education in Emergency Project Manager at Oxfam, echoed Longole’s concerns, stating that traditional beliefs are a major barrier to girls’ education in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
“Girls here are rather looked at as wealth. We need to encourage these communities to support girl child education. This requires more community engagement, especially with traditional leaders and parents,” Acheng said.
Sunday James, a candidate for the 2024 national examinations, urged parents to recognize the importance of education, not just for girls but also for boys.
“If only parents knew the importance of education, they would send all their children to school. This is hard currently because of perception,” she said, calling for greater parental support for education in the area.
Oxfam, with support from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), is working to sustain girls’ enrollment in schools in Pibor County and Gumuruk County.
The organization supports nine schools in Pibor and five in Gumuruk through initiatives such as scholarships, cash transfers, distribution of sanitary pads, and payment of examination fees.
These efforts have contributed to improving school enrollment, but challenges remain as cultural practices continue to undermine progress.
