South Sudan shut down schools for 2-weeks due to heatwave

JUBA – South Sudan’s government on Thursday announced the closure of all schools nationwide for two weeks due to an extreme heatwave, effective February 21, 2025.

The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Vice President for Service Cluster, Josephine Joseph Lagu, on Thursday in Juba following recommendation from the Ministry of Health, Environment, and Education.

In a joint media briefing on Thursday, Josephine Napwon Cosmos, Minister of Environment and Forestry, said the majority of Africa’s youngest nation is experiencing an extreme heat wave expected to last for two weeks with high temperatures ranging between 39 degrees Celsius and 42 degrees Celsius.

“The Minister of Education is to close schools for a period of two weeks or more, and they will be reopened when cool temperatures return,” Napwon said.

Napwon said the Minister of Education has been instructed to reopen schools in the second week of March.

She said government agencies are being ordered to operates at least half days for the next two weeks or longer to lessen the heatwave’s impact on workers,

For her part, Aya Benjamin Warille, Acting Minister of Health, advised people to stay inside during extremely hot weather in order to reduce risk of illness.

“Residents are advised to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day. Two, hydration. It is crucial to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink,” said Benjamin.

She added that “Three, cooling measures. Keeping homes cool and reducing heat exposure is recommended. These include using fans or air conditioning where available. Four, seek cooler locations. Moving to cooler places, when possible, can help alleviate heat stress.”