Education

Digital Literacy and Basic Education form the pillars of R-CAN’s strategy in Rural South Sudan

Education in South Sudan and R-CAN’s role

While South Sudan is making giant advances in construction, electrical works, road construction, software and solar power, it is paradoxically still struggling with basic literacy for a large segment of its population. At the time of independence, South Sudan’s literacy rate was a staggering 27%. Since then, it has made tremendous strides in educating its people. According to a 2022 population estimates, the literacy rate has grown to 34.5%; however, this figure is still much more below the world average literacy rate of 84%. The National Bureau Statistics data states that though the gap between the literacy rate in urban and rural areas is steadily declining, the divide still exists. The literacy rate among the urban population is 34.1%, while the literacy rate of the rural population is only 1.8%. The rural inhabitants live in remote areas, far from major cities. Those areas are highly deprived of basic amenities, modern facilities and even basic infrastructure, especially on the operational level. These areas are often non-reachable by road and hence neglected by development agencies. In this scenario, R-CAN emerged as the most pragmatic solution to this National Need.

 

A generation of children in South Sudan is being deprived of a fair chance in life.

More than 2.8 million children, or over 70 per cent, are out of school in South Sudan, putting at risk their futures and the future of the country. Some of the out-of-school children are living in pastoral communities, moving with their cattle and are not able to attend regular classes. The largest group of out-of-school children in South Sudan are girls. Poverty, child marriage and cultural and religious views all hinder girls' education.

 

 

Education Focus Areas

R-CAN

R-CAN is established in a village once a rapid skills vocational institute is formed and takes the responsibility to monitor and support education activities. This brings the local ownership and involvement of the village community. R-CAN SKILLS-BRIDGE VOCATIONAL (RSV) INSTITUTE ensures five folds education for the youths and whole village community including rural women, rural youth and farmers.

Functional Literacy

Primary objective of R-CAN RSV is to ensure functional literacy among youth of South Sudan. RSV runs usually for 8 hours for 6 days in a week with an average of 250 students. The students are admitted after the assessment of their literacy level, so that accordingly three groups could be formed. The main purpose is to teach adults basic skills of (reading, writing, basic arithmetic), automechanics, electrical, construction, healthcare, general science and basic social study.

Health Care Education

The other important objective is to create awareness among children and village community towards health and hygiene through demo and providing examples and narrating importance of cleanness in the village so that they are sensitised to take care of their basic health needs. Village community is also sensitised about the importance of healthy and balanced diet. 

Development Education

RSV farming skills works with farmers and rural youth to spread awareness about the organic farming. Special camps are organised to train farmers and rural youth to make agriculture a profitable venture. Main focus remains on sustainable models and techniques in agriculture.

Empowerment Education

R-CAN extensively runs awareness campaigns on different issues of national importance. The main focus of these campaigns is on educating village community about different welfare Govt. schemes available for them. Modern farming techniques, Tree plantation, Bank Accounts, cleanness etc. remain some of other important campaigns.

Ethics and Value Education

Development alone would not make a better society in the absence of appropriate guidance on value system. Considering the importance of the same, R-CAN emphasises on ethics and value education as an important aspect in RSV and also runs mobile cultural centres across its network. Cultural centres bring all segments of society together through different programs, by engaging women, youth & elders of the rural-tribal community in the development programmes.

Curriculum

R-CAN RSV Curriculum has been evolved with its journey of more than three years. The philosophy adopted is based on activity and story-telling. Different people at different level have contributed in bringing the final RSV Curriculum and presently led by full time mentors and volunteers at National Level who have more than 30 years of experience in the field of education with grass-roots understanding.

RSV is conducted six days in a week for eight hours and following structure is followed:

  • Youth in the age group of 18 to 25  years are allowed to attend
  • A maximum of 50 learners can be part of RSV classroom
  • In the beginning of the year the youth are divided in to two groups based on their level of learning skill

Curriculum Includes

  • Basic Literacy, Arithmetic and Science
  • Language – English & local Juba Arabic
  • Health and Hygiene
  • Promoting Local Skills
  • Physical Activities – Basketball and soccer

To adjust for the differences in culture and language across South Sudan, each state has a curriculum leader who is responsible for translating content to the local language and choosing appropriate play and stories based on the traditions of the state.

The Ekal curriculum follows a three year syllabus, which is teaches simultaneously to multiple grades through group learning (also called multi-grade teaching). Teacher teaches various grade levels at different times during the 3 hour day while students would work on homework assigned to them. Older students assist younger students – enjoy learning from older peers.

R-CAN South Sudan

R-CAN is a registered South Sudanese non-profit organization engaged in the vocational education of women and youth in rural South Sudanl.

Charity Registration Number: 853421162RR0001

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