Mercy Julie, an 18-year-old girl from Yambio in Western Equatoria State, South Sudan, had to leave school in Primary Five due to financial constraints. Her father could no longer afford to pay for her education, and she had to take on baking and selling mandazi to support herself. Despite the challenges, Julie has not given up on her dream of returning to school. She has sought financial assistance but has not yet secured the support she needs.
Julie's experience reflects the difficulties facing many girls in Western Equatoria State, where poverty, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, insecurity, and education costs continue to interrupt schooling and limit opportunities for young women. According to Western Equatoria State Minister of General Education and Instruction Patrick Riruyo, poverty often leads families to prioritize boys' education over girls' when resources are limited. This has resulted in a significant number of girls dropping out of school.
Minister Riruyo identified early marriage and teenage pregnancy as major contributors to girls leaving school. He noted that young mothers face additional challenges in returning to education due to childcare responsibilities and inadequate family support. Social expectations that women should remain at home to raise children, coupled with inadequate childcare arrangements, further restrict young mothers' opportunities to resume their studies.
The consequences of dropping out of school can be severe and long-lasting. Girls who do not complete their education often face limited job opportunities, economic dependence, health risks, and social stigma. Riruyo emphasized that reliable statistics on school dropouts are needed to guide interventions and support affected learners. He called for stronger education data collection to establish dropout rates and identify the main causes.
Bob Moses, team leader for Western Equatoria at African Education Trust, also highlighted poverty, early and forced marriage, teenage pregnancy, and family responsibilities as major obstacles to girls completing their education. He expressed concern that the desire for consumer goods associated with modern lifestyles could influence some girls to make decisions that interrupt their education. Insecurity and examination fees also present significant barriers to education.
Moses noted that insecurity had previously prevented education partners from reaching some communities during girls' education programs. He called for a survey to establish how many learners, particularly girls, were leaving school due to inability to pay examination fees. Moses urged stakeholders to identify affected learners and develop practical ways to help them complete their examinations.
Alternative education programs offer a route back to education for girls who have left conventional schooling. African Education Trust is providing alternative learning opportunities for young people unable to continue through the mainstream education system, including girls who have become pregnant or given birth. Through its Accelerated Secondary Education Programme, the organization aims to support girls like Mercy Julie in resuming their studies and pursuing qualifications.
Key points
- Poverty forces many girls in South Sudan to drop out of school, limiting their opportunities for education and employment.
- Early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and family responsibilities are major contributors to girls leaving school in Western Equatoria State.
- Alternative education programs offer a route back to education for girls who have left conventional schooling due to various challenges.
