The civil war in South Sudan has displaced over 400,000 people in just over a month since the conflict began last December. Refugees displaced within the country have limited access to food, water, and education. The U.N. has taken some steps to address the situation by setting up camps throughout the country to provide services to the refugees. Now the U.N. is assisting hundreds of primary school children complete their final exams in two camps in the capital city of Juba.
The Primary School Leaving Examinations, required of students before they can advance to secondary school. More than 400 students are currently their exams in the camps. “The candidates in Juba County could not sit for their exams because of the clashes that begun on the eve of the examination date last month,” said Eustaz Wani Ladu, director of National Examinations at the State Ministry of Education. “We’re hoping the situation in Juba remains calm throughout the examination period,” he added.
While being able to sit the exam does offer students some normalcy, the situation is not ideal for test takers. “This will definitely affect my performance,” noted 19 year-old Gatluak Tung Gatluak. UNICEF representative Iyorluman Uhaa echoed his sentiments. “Taking a primary school leaving exam is a major milestone in education and we are impressed by the courage and determination of these young students to pursue their education under the most difficult of circumstances. We will do everything we can to help these young students through to secondary education and a chance at the future they so deserve.”
Creative Commons Love: European Commission DG ECHO on Flickr.com
Written by Alex Leedom