On International Day of Education, we recall that since 2011, the United States Agency for International Development has provided more than $328 million to help millions of South Sudanese learn foundational literacy and numeracy skills, gain employment, make safe health choices, and promote peace.
We renew our call on the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to use public resources to meet public needs, including basic education. This would include the RTGoNU using more of its funds to address one of the worst literacy rates in the world. Approximately 70 percent of adults cannot read or write. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the lack of public resources made available for education. Roughly 84 percent of girls over the age of 15 are illiterate compared to 73 percent for boys; and only 8 percent are enrolled in secondary school compared to 15 percent for boys, according to the United Nations.
For more information, please contact the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section: Henry Andrea, Information and Media Assistant | andreaHJ@state.gov |+211 0912152994