Lakes State has an estimated area of 93,900 Km2. it has 8 counties with 52 Payams and an estimated population of 1,276,381 million people. About 57% of these areas are children of school going age. The state has 283 functioning basic schools, most in the open (under trees).

Student enrolment status

The enrolment stands at 107,384 children (84,384 boys and 22,648 girls) enrolled to schools in the 283 schools (the first wave of registration – April – May 2007). Net enrolment is therefore only 15% of children of school going age. However, this figure might change as enrolment drive continues during the year. The ministry plans to enrol 120,000 additional children to school in 2007.
As highlighted above, the ministry of Education in partnership with UNICEF and other NGOs support the following activities as a means to create “Children Friendly School”.

Sector Policy Planning

This is to build the capacity of the Ministry to respond to the immense needs of the education sector. Appointment of County Education Directors and Payam Education Officers in meant to empower the counties to manage education at those levels.

Increased Access to Basic Education

Go to school (GTS) Initiative is the flagship of the ministry of Education. It strives to recruit 120,000 additional children to school during 2007. For this to be a success story, “Girls Education Movement Clubs” in all schools are used as the vehicles to mobilize communities and parents to send their children to school with special focus on the girl child. Scholastic materials are provided (these include; exercise books, pupils kits, teachers kits, head teachers kits, textbooks (P1 – P4), and recreation materials). These are provided to retain children in school. In additional school tents are provided as a means to create additional learning spaces.

Improved Quality of Basic Education

The objective here in to improve teaching learning environment. This is done through teacher training, Life skill, facts for life and HIV/AIDS training of education administrators, construction of schools. This year the ministry is able to construct 7 schools with the supports of the Government and people of Japan and Germany (6 + 10 schools constructed and rehabilitated respectively with supported of Japan and 1 school by Germans).

Emergency Preparedness and Response

While addressing the above, we also keep alert on any eventuality. Lakes State is prone to natural and man-made disasters. Hence an emergency preparedness plans in put in place for quick.

Inter - Sectoral Collaboration

The Ministry in collaboration with the following partners in the education sector.

· UNICEF Supply of learning materials, school construction, teachers training and capacity building of the ministry.

· Water section (WASH) program to provide sanitation and water facilities in the schools as well as running hygiene education.

· Health and Nutrition

· HIV/AIDS – life skills and facts for life.

· Protection

Partnerships

The Ministry works in partnership with a number of UN Agencies and NGOs. This partnership is very important to realize the rights of Every Child to Education.

Save the Children Sweden: Provides teacher training and child protection.

UNICEF: Supply of scholastic materials, support in teacher training, capacity building of the ministry staff and provision of learning space (tents, Plastic sheets and construction of classroom) and provision of clean water points and sanitary facilities (pit latrines).

World Food Program (WFP); provision of emergency school feeding program (ESFP) and food for schools construction as well as food for training. Currently WFP supports about 56 basic schools.

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO): Introducing school gardening to selected Child Friendly Schools.

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC): Support in schools construction (Cueicok and Wulu), teacher and PTAs training and Accelerated learning program (ALP).

African Education Trust: Supports in teachers training and capacity building of school administrators as well as training parents teachers association (PTAs).

Community and Parents: Supports in running and managing day-to-day of the school of the schools through the formed committees.

Ministry of Education: Policy formulation, coordination, guidance, remuneration of teachers and supervision.

These partnerships enabled education to move forward.

Challenges

· High community demand for their children to be educated

· Children demanding education

· Few learning spaces as compared to the demand for education.

· Inadequate learning and teaching materials.

· Lack of unified curriculum at the upper classes P5 – P8.

· Complex working environment.

· Lack of office equipment – computers and other communication gadgets.

In conclusion, with all the above strides made, the challenges remain enormous. We appeal for more partnerships to realize the MDG number 2 – achieve universal primary education and MDG3 – promote gender equality and empower women.

Profile of Jiir and Morngeny Primary schools

During the year, the ministry with support from Japanese Government and German Natcom was able to construct seven (7) schools namely Jiir, Morneny, Wuorbouy, Aluakluak, Cap and Baraliab (Japanese Government support) and Deng Nhial (German Natcom). In addition 10 schools were rehabilitated with the Japanese support namely; Ameer, Yali, Yirol Girls, Deng Nhial, Panachaui, Cuei Adukan, and Biling Ageer. Jiir and morngany are the basic statistics of the 2 schools Jiir and Morngany that are being officially opened today.
In Morngeny Primary school, the total of Girls enrolment to primary school levels from P1 to P8 in Lakes is 56 while Boys enrolment 305, which can give you a total of 361.
Also in Jiir primary school’ the enrolment of girls is 143 while boy’s enrolment is 410 which can give you 553.

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