After 22 years of war, education is dismal in Southern Sudan. During a needs assessment trip in February 2005, we visited 1/3 of the schools in Bor South County of the Upper Nile Region of Southern Sudan and the situation in each school was similar. School attendance is 8.5% and less than 24% of students are girls. Most teachers are unpaid. Classes are large in lower grades and class size dwindling in the higher grades.
There are little to no supplies in school and buildings are crumbling. Attending school with no supplies and in dilapidated buildings is neither motivating nor effective for learning. Many students are encouraged to go to the cattle camp rather than attend school. Girls face additional barriers to education including heavy workloads at home and cultural pressure to avoid attending school with boys.
We met with several teachers, students, administrators, and government officials during our visit to Bor South County. Each person stressed the desire for effective education in the region. Leaders and parents committed to increase student attendance with a particular focus on girls’ attendance.
This project is working with local leaders and Southern Sudan government officials to distribute school supplies to schools in the region, support teachers, provide grain mills and water pumps so that more girls can attend school, and build permanent school buildings.
We propose to present an overview of education in Bor South County as a sample of education in the region and in Southern Sudan. We will share photos, video, and information gathered during the February 2005 Needs Assessment Trip and a June 2005 supply distribution trip to Southern Sudan. We will discuss schools, teachers, students, and barriers to education in Southern Sudan as well as plans to address these issues to improve education.

---