Jonglei State Minister Samuel Ador Thon: No Approval for 44 Unapproved Secondary Schools

• Jonglei State Education Minister Samuel Ador Thon cancelled 44 newly created secondary schools due to lack of resources and qualified teachers.
• The establishment of secondary schools in South Sudan requires prior approval from the national Ministry of General Education and Instruction.
• The cancellation highlights the importance of complying with South Sudan's education laws and policies when establishing new schools.

In a move to safeguard the quality of education in Jonglei State, Jonglei State's Minister of General Education and Instruction Samuel Ador Thon has cancelled the establishment of 44 newly created secondary schools. The decision was made necessary by the fact that these schools were set up without meeting the required legal and educational standards. According to Ador, the affected schools lacked essential facilities such as classrooms, administrative offices, and libraries, as well as qualified teachers.

The cancellation of these schools highlights the importance of adhering to South Sudan's education laws and policies when establishing new institutions. The minister emphasized that creating a school without necessary resources risks lowering the quality of education, overwhelming teachers, and creating unrealistic expectations among communities.

The establishment of secondary schools in South Sudan requires prior approval from the national Ministry of General Education and Instruction. This is in accordance with the country's education laws and policies, which aim to ensure that all educational institutions meet certain standards before receiving approval. Ador explained that creating a school is not an easy task that can be done by one person, but rather it requires policy, budget, law, consultations, and the relevant authority's mandate.

The minister's decision to cancel the 44 schools was likely influenced by the fact that Jonglei State currently has 39 operational secondary schools. This suggests that the state government may have prioritized strengthening existing institutions over establishing new ones.

This development underscores the importance of compliance with South Sudan's education laws and policies, particularly when it comes to establishing new schools. Lawyers advising clients on educational projects should review these regulations to avoid potential non-compliance issues.

The cancellation of the 44 schools also highlights the need for increased government funding, consultations with stakeholders, and proper assessment of communities' needs before establishing new educational institutions. By prioritizing strengthening existing secondary schools, the state government may be able to improve overall education quality in Jonglei State.

This development highlights the importance for school administrators to ensure compliance with South Sudan's education laws and policies, particularly when establishing new schools. Lawyers advising clients on educational projects should review these regulations to avoid potential non-compliance issues.

Source: Original reporting via Radio Tamazuj