South Sudan: Arabic to Be Phased Out From Secondary Schools

By Staff Writer

The government of South Sudan says English will replace Arabic as the sole medium of instruction in the new country's secondary schools within the next three years.

In a press release, the caretaker minister for General Education, Hon Dr Michael Milli Hussein reported that the ministry is already working on mainstreaming English language in its syllabi. He said that the ministry is currently reviewing 240 English book titles from Kenya.

"We have chosen a panel of English teachers to review the books and advise on which ones can be acquired", he said. “The panel of teachers is currently meeting in Maridi for this exercise and is expected to report in the next one month,” he added.

Dr. Hussein spoke Saturday at the opening of a new secondary school, Yapa Senior Secondary School which has been constructed through the concerted efforts of the local community at Lobonok in Central Equatoria state.  Hussein also pledged to hire better-educated teachers and increase the number of math and science teachers in the country.

He also said that the government is committed to uplifting the standards of education in the country explaining that one way this can be achieved is by employing qualified teachers. He announced that all secondary school teachers will henceforth be university graduates.

South Sudan is in the process of establishing state customs and institutions following its full independence last month.

The new country still faces challenges, including widespread poverty and chronic violence involving tribes and rebel militias.

South Sudan was declared an independent nation after voting to secede in a referendum in January. The plebiscite was conducted in accordance with the provision in the peace deal signed in 2005 to end 21 years of civil war between North and South.