From Adia Jildo, in Juba
The government of South Sudan has threatened to sue schools that disregard the recent suspension of learning due to heat waves.
The Deputy Minister of General Education and Instruction, Martin Tako in an interview disclosed to journalists in the capital, Juba, that a number of schools had requested to be exempted from the temporary closure of schools.
The request has however been snubbed after the minister rejected it citing health concerns of the students.
“Anybody that does not abide by the closure of the school is violating the law and will be brought to book. The order to close down the schools are final and not negotiable,” the minister said.
Martin said, “There are very many requests from private schools to exempt them from the closure of the school which is unbecoming and we totally reject them.”
The Ministry of Health and Environment alongside the Ministry of General Education and Instruction last Friday declared a two week suspension of learning across the country due to rising heat waves.
According to Martin, the ministry had received reports of many school children collapsing at schools and on their way home, a situation that threatens the health and wellbeing of the children.
He further stated that the decision was binding and was taken with consultation with the president and the vice president alongside the Ministry of Health.
However, the minister also said they will wait for confirmation from the Ministry of Health and Environment on the level of compliance by the schools.
“We will not even after the two weeks, we may not open unless the minister of health and environment advises us. The ministry is monitoring the situation everyday.*
The deputy minister however stated that the ministry plans to review the academic calendar to change the state of the term to March aligning with the Sudan academic calendar to prevent disruption of learning due to effects of the heat waves.
He also assured that learning hours would be extended to close the gaps created during the suspension of learning due to heat waves.
This is the second time schools in South Sudan were close due to heat waves.
According to IGAD weather forecast, most IGAD regions are expected to be warmer than usual temperatures in March including South Sudan.
