China-built school helps S. Sudanese students dream big

Students study in a classroom at the Chinese Friendship Secondary School in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Aug. 17, 2016. The School accommodates about 2,297 students. (Xinhua/Gale Julius)

JUBA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A China-built secondary school in South Sudan's capital Juba has helped kept the aspirations of students despite the uneasy environment in the war-torn nation.

The China Friendship School, which was constructed in 2013 by a Chinese company, currently accommodates over 2,000 students.

Solomon Michael Abas, a 17-year-old Form Three student, said he feels encouraged by the good learning facilities he enjoys at the school.

"My being here has encouraged me to become a gynecologist in future. I hope one day the Chinese will come here to give us science tips because what they did to build this school proofs that one day they will come back," Abas told Xinhua earlier this week.

The school's deputy head teacher, Onesimo Uonyi Loguya, told Xinhua that the 14-classroom structure had helped thousands of poor and vulnerable students to continue with their education because of its affordability and secure learning environment.

"We are really very thankful to the Chinese government for having done their best to erect this school in Munuki Payam because this is the only government (run) secondary school here. Before, students were getting difficulties to get to school," Loguya said.

Loguya said the school had recorded increased number of student enrollment since 2014 and it was becoming congested.

Students pump water at the Chinese Friendship Secondary School in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Aug. 17, 2016. The School accommodates about 2,297 students. (Xinhua/Gale Julius)

Wani Sule Ladu, Jubek State education minister, said China had played a major role in supporting South Sudan in the infrastructure and education sectors, adding there were several China-funded schools throughout the state.

Elizabeth Juru, another Form Three student, called on authorities to upgrade facilities at the school to meet certain standards.

"What makes me happy about this school is the good learning environment that we enjoy. I want to be a doctor in future. But currently the science students lack books and a laboratory for doing practical work, which is making learning difficult," Juru told Xinhua.

South Sudan's education indicators remain among the worst in the world. The country's education sector remains critically under-resourced, according to the Ministry of Education. Official data shows annual allocation to education stood at 7 percent for 2013-2014.

This has contributed to high number of school dropout, low primary completion rate, scarce teaching and learning materials and inadequate school infrastructure, with a large number of open air classrooms.

The adult literacy rate stands at 27 percent, and 70 percent of children aged between six and 17 have never set foot in a classroom -- with only 33 percent of girls in schools, one of the lowest in the world, according to the UN children's agency (UNICEF) report released in March.

Michael Lopuke, Undersecretary for Education, said the country was seeking funds for reconstruction of learning institutions.

South Sudan has been blighted by a more than two-year civil war that erupted in December 2013, and there are renewed clashes between the two factions involved in the war.