150,000 South Sudanese girls receive cash grants for education

Juba, March 9 (IANS) South Sudan on Wednesday said it granted cash grants for education of 150,000 girls in 2017 in a bid to prevent them from early child marriage that has kept majority girls out of school.

Minister of General Education Deng Hoc revealed in the capital of Juba that they are working toward making education free for all South Sudanese children, with majority out of school due to poverty and conflict, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We have worked together with British government on supporting girl education of 150,000 girls. These girls will receive cash transfer from Girl Education South Sudan (GESS)," he revealed.

Girls in South Sudan face serious disadvantages in education. The country has the worst indicators for girls' education in the world.

Not only are they less likely to enter school, girls are also more likely to drop out compared to boys.

"We are working to make education free for all from the age of three. I have reminded the people of South Sudan about this provision in our constitution. All children must be allowed to go to school unconditionally," Hoc said.

The World Bank has estimated that only seven girls for every ten boys attend primary education, while five girls for every ten boys are enrolled in secondary education.

In 2013 only 500 girls were in the last grade of secondary school in the whole country.

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