Education and Child Protection

Since the conflict erupted in December 2013, some 1.17 (UNICEF and UNESCO put this figure at 2 million) million children aged 3 to 17 years have lost access to education. The Primary Net Enrolment rate is now 43.5% due to conflict, displacements, lack of trained teachers, inadequate supplies, and disruption of education services fueled by the economic crisis. In addition, some 124,100 refugee children in South Sudan will need education assistance from 2018 onward. Affected People South Sudan school-aged children (3 to 18 years old) have been endangered and had their education disrupted by conflict and displacement. Adolescent boys and young men are particularly vulnerable to recruitment by armed actors. At the same time, adolescent girls are at increased risk of early and forced marriages, as well as sexual exploitation and abuse, due to the escalating economic crisis. School-aged children represent more than 47.75% of the displaced population. Education infrastructure has also been dramatically impacted by violence. This interruption of education will have immediate, medium and long-term consequences for the stability and development of South Sudan, as children who are not in school will lack the structure and stimulation for healthy cognitive and psychosocial development. Furthermore, the education crisis increases the risk that more out-of-school adolescents will be recruited by armed actors. Children, parents and communities consider education a critical priority.

Strategic Goal

“To promote access to protective and inclusive quality education for all children affected by the conflict in South Sudan.”

Strategies

Access to education

Improve inclusive access to education through recruitment, training and motivation of teachers, construction and rehabilitation of learning spaces, provision of teaching and learning materials, and capacity development for local education managers and community elders.

Girl child education

Increase girls’ enrollment and retention in schools through Comprehensive sexuality education training for adolescent girls to minimize cases of unwanted pregnancy, proper menstrual hygiene management, and provision of capitation grants and scholarships to keep girls in schools. Community advocacy will also be fully enhanced.

Retention programmes in schools

Reduce school dropout and out-of-school children in the communities through on-site school meals, take-home ration, and provision of dignity kits to adolescent girls in schools.

Education governance and leadership

Improve governance and established ownership of schools by communities through the establishment, training and continuous coaching of School Management committees, Parents Teachers Associations – PTAs and the school communities.

Out of school youth programmes

Support out of school skills training and livelihoods programmes to cater for the out of school youth. Establishment of youth drop-in centers, more ALP centers, vocational skills centers and inter-linking livelihood projects to education.

Child protection in an emergency

ensure the mental and physical safety of children through trauma identification, psychosocial support, child protection case management, referral to specialized services, referral pathways and reintegration of Children Association with Armed Forces or Armed Groups (CAAFAG). All staff employed by CMD signs a child protection code of conduct and are governed by CMD’s child protection policy.