Mr. Acwil Lwal Jwok speaks to Sudanvisiondaily.com

From: sudanvisiondaily.com

Mr. Acwil Lwal Jwok, who joined elementary school in 1942 at Dolieb Hill, started teaching in 1953 at Obel Teachers Training Centre for two years. In 1955, he was transferred to Dolieb Hill as Acting Headmaster. When Sudan became independent, he was made full Headmaster in 1957. Acwil Lwal served in that capacity for years. In 1973 after Addis Ababa agreement, he was appointed Senior Inspector of Social Welfare. He progressed in that capacity till he became the Director of Department of Social Welfare. In 1987, he was appointed advisor of regional government of Upper Nile, Malakal. In 1987, Acwil Lwal was pensioned from public service.

Albino O. Deng of Sudan Vision approached veteran teacher Acwil Lwal Jwok to shed light on education in the Upper Nile in the past.

Excerpts: Q: When did you join school? A: I joined Dolieb Hill Elementary School in 1942.

Q: Can you name the first schools in Upper Nile and the year in which they were established? A: Well, these were mission schools, and included Dolieb Hill, Lul, Tonga and De Twok Elementary Schools, and Bush schools.

Q: When did you start teaching? A: I started teaching in 1953 at Obel Teachers Training Centre.

Q: Can you name one of your outstanding students? A: Yes, most outstanding student was Isaac Odhong, former First Secretary in External Relations in America. He died in the '80s at Malakal. There was also Oweti Ajangdid, colleague of Edward Svenardze former President of Georgia. He was the Sudanese Ambassador in Moscow. He died in a car accident in the '80s in Moscow.

Q: Who were your colleagues? A: Peter Dak a Nuer from Bentiu, Joseph Maker a Dinka from Bahr Al Ghazal and Andrew Amum.

Q: Were there any girls school? A: Yes, there was Dolieb Hill Girls School.

Q: What were the subjects taught in schools by then? A: From first year to second year, all subjects were taught in the Shilluk language. But from 3rd year to fourth year the lessons were taught in English language.

Q: When was Arabic language introduced in the South? A: Arabic language was introduced in the 1960s till the schools were divided into Arabic pattern and English pattern.

Q: What are your comments on abolishing boarding schools in the South? A: Abolishing boarding schools was caused by teachers themselves. They became corrupt after the Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972. They inflated the contractors' bills till the Southern governments were unable to pay. All schools were turned into day schools. Abolishing boarding schools is a great loss for students because they cannot learn how to exchange views, interact in social gatherings, cooperation, and self-management.

Q: Where did schools in your days get their support? A: It was first from missionaries but when Sudan became independent the government took over the responsibility of schools.

Q: Which is one of the educational systems is appropriate, 4-year-6 year or 8 year basic school? A: 4-year system is good because it keeps students ready for entrance examinations every four years. 6-year to 8-year systems makes students lazy to read. In practice some pupils in eighth year do not know how to write their names and letters in Arabic or English.

Q: Local languages were part and parcel of the educational systems because they promote culture. Now such languages are no longer taught in schools. What is your comment? A: I am advising parents to let them teach and practice speaking the vernacular languages in their daily lives.

Q: In Khartoum some Shilluk parents are not adhering to their customary marriages in regards to some to give them to wealthy people in defiance of norms of the Shilluk tribe and traditional laws. What can you say about it? A: It is not at all part of the Shilluk culture to conduct marriages like that. The situation is forcing some poor families to give away their daughters so that they could find food.

Q: You have served in schools in the South, since 1950s. How do you compare life in Khartoum and that of Malakal? A: No comparison. I consider myself a displaced person tied down in one place with my age-mates in the South. I am free to move about on foot meeting many people.

Q: Now peace is on the way. What kind of life do you expect to be in the South after peace agreement? A: It is difficult to predict because Southerners have scattered all over the world. When they return home, they would come with different cultures and behaviors and I do not know what will happen.

Q: Is the six-year interim period enough to make Southerners vote for unity or separation? A: Well, war is nearly 50 years. People should sit to make a complete preparation. Six years are enough to make referendum.

Q: If the South votes for unity, will there be another rebellion? A: In fact war has taken a long time. Unity should come out of the hearts of people. Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Fashoda agreements were for unity. If such agreements failed, what unity do we want again?