South Sudan, China kick start second phase of education cooperation

JUBA – South Sudan and China on Monday launched the second phase of the China-Aided Technical Cooperation Project in Education.

The Cooperation Project will see the capacity building for South Sudanese teachers and also the printing of more textbooks for learners.

The second phase of the project to be funded with a grant of 20 million U.S dollars from the Chinese government will also include, compilation and printing of primary school textbooks for the subjects of English, Mathematics, and Science, the capacity building of teachers, and educational management personnel.

In addition, it also includes the development and supply of textbook usage evaluation system, and supply of teaching equipment, and carrying out Chinese language programs.

Hussein AbdelbagiAkol, Vice President for Service Cluster said the second phase of the project demonstrates the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.

“I am delighted to be here today to launch the second phase of China-Aided Technical Cooperation Project of Education. This is a remarkable testimony of the friendship between our two countries,” he said during the launch at Juba Grand Hotel.

Abdelbagi revealed that since the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that paved way for South Sudan’s independence in 2011, China has fundamentally supported Juba in a variety of sectors including infrastructure, health, education, and roads and bridges.

The education project is going to be carried out by the Shanghai Educational Publishing House, a leading educational press in China.

Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of General Education and Instruction said that the educational sector of South Sudan has been making progress with support from Beijing citing increment in girls’ school enrolment.

“I am pleased to report that implementation of the second phase of the China-Aided Technical Cooperation Project has already begun, for example, review of curriculum material is underway and teaching of Chinese language is taking place at Juba Day Secondary School,” disclosed Deng.

“This project is extremely valuable to the ministry because it is in line with the ministry’s programs and priorities particularly, provision of quality education, training of teachers and school managers, and printing of textbooks. We believe that the training program will contribute to quality education in South Sudan,” she added.

Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan said China and South Sudan share similar historical experiences and common aspirations for development.

“In the 10 years of our diplomatic relationship the education sector has always been a priority area for our exchange and cooperation, China has supported the construction of a number of primary and secondary schools in South Sudan, trained over 5,000 professionals in various sectors, and also provided hundreds of scholarships for students to study in China,” said Hua.

He disclosed that the successful implementation of Phase 1 of the project marked the first comprehensive China-Aided Technical Cooperation in the Education sector for developing countries.

Hua revealed that more than a million textbooks in English, Science, and Mathematics subjects were shipped to Juba benefiting more than 150,000 South Sudanese teachers and students.

In addition, he noted that over 200 South Sudanese teachers attended capacity building training in China.