Kauda's Citizens Prioritize Education; Local Authorities Listen
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| The original Kauda Primary School (inset) was built by the community and extended by USAID/OTI. |
During Sudan's decades-long civil war, children in Southern Kordofan, an area formerly controlled by the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement, had few educational opportunities. Marginalization and lack of resources contributed to a complete absence of state educational services. Children who were fortunate enough to complete primary school generally did so by traveling to Uganda.
However, in 2002, as the peace process began to take hold, the residents of Kauda and local authorities founded the Kauda Primary School in a small, rudimentary structure to serve children in grades one through three. The following year, after a ceasefire brought an end to the conflict, the community established Southern Kordofan's first teacher training facility: the Kauda Teacher Training College (KTTC).
To help the region's civil authorities address an increasing demand for educational services, USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) recently funded an extension of the elementary school. In addition, USAID/OTI funded the renovation of a dining room and construction of permanent additions at the KTTC, including two rooms, a library, and a staff office.
Today, the Kauda Primary School provides a complete education for grades one through eight. Another organization has followed USAID/OTI's example and funded the construction of two more classrooms, so the school now enrolls more than 1,000 students. At the KTTC, the improvements have increased enrollment capacity from 150 students to 200 and helped create an environment that is more conducive to learning. The improvements are also helping support the peace process, as the college now has additional space to hold civic education classes that train prospective teachers to accurately disseminate information on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
USAID/OTI is committed to assisting civil authorities meet the development priorities identified by marginalized communities, thereby reducing the potential for future conflict. And local authorities in Kauda have responded to their community's needs by providing exceptional support and supervision for these education projects.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C: Victoria Rames, Program Manager, Tel: (202) 712-4899, vrames@usaid.gov
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