South Sudan's young learners grappling with COVID-19-linked financial hardships

JUBA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Majority of primary and high school finalists in South Sudan are grappling with financial hardships linked to the COVID-19 pandemic amid negative impact on their cognitive abilities.

The young learners in the east African nation said they had borne the brunt of the economic downturn occasioned by the pandemic, adding that their academic aspirations were in peril.

The government in September announced the resumption of in-person learning for primary and high school finalists to enable them complete the 2019 /2020 academic year.

Tutors on their part have redoubled their effort to prepare lessons and complete the syllabus within the required timeframe.

"Since the pandemic broke out in South Sudan, my brain got used to not reading books while I was at home and this has become a challenge to cope with besides other challenges like financial hardships," said Debby Aker, a finalist at Juba-based St. Thomas Secondary school.

Aker said that 2020 has been a nightmare as she struggled to attend classes with an empty stomach due to abject poverty weighing heavily on her family.

"Otherwise, I am gradually coping up with reading books and schools schedules during this limited time," said Aker

Awut Deng Achuil, minister for general education, said the first phase of reopening of schools which commenced on Oct. 5 involved only 75,000 pupils in Primary Eight and 35,000 students in Senior Four across South Sudan's ten states.

Peter Monday, a finalist at Peter's High School located in Jebel Dinka, a suburb of Juba, shared Aker's sentiments that the pandemic has worsened the young learners' plight.

"We are facing a lot of challenges in so many ways, for example, wearing facemasks makes us uncomfortable, particularly in breathing. Local transport for going to school has become expensive. We have been trekking to school on several occasions," Monday said.

Meen Makuei, a primary eight pupil at Juba-based Elites primary school, said teachers are rushing to complete the syllabus and ensure finalists are adequately prepared to sit for the examinations.

"The teachers are racing against time to complete the syllabus within the set time frame hence placing enormous pressure on finalists already reeling from food insecurity linked to COVID-19 lockdowns," said Makuei.

Tong Mapul Makeny, a high school finalist, said the pressure to complete the syllabus and sit for examinations was taking a heavier toll on his peers already burdened by financial hardships and lack of basic needs. Enditem