Getting girls back to the classroom after COVID-19 school closures

  • A Advocacy Campaign/Project

I Inactive

Key Information

Even before COVID-19, 2.2 million children, most of whom are girls, were out of school in South Sudan. Protracted conflict has devastated the country’s education system, and the recent pandemic left an additional 2.1 million children out of school. UNICEF is working closely with the Government and other partners to advocate for a complete, safe return to school for the 2.1 million children who dropped out due to COVID-19. Of these children, nearly 900,000 are girls and require particular attention to reengage with their learning. Despite deep-rooted challenges, UNICEF South Sudan reached 1.5 million in and out-of-school children (630,000 girls) in 2020 from pre-primary through to secondary with both distance learning and face-to-face education for students in examination classes.

UNICEF is working closely with the Government and other partners to advocate for a complete, safe return to school for the 2.1 million children who dropped out due to COVID-19. Of these children, nearly 900,000 are girls and require particular attention to reengage with their learning.

So far, 2021 is seeing UNICEF South Sudan and partners engrossed in the extensive Back-to-School campaign. In April, UNICEF is planning to distribute 2 million textbooks to 5,000 schools in the country. UNICEF is also working with the Government and partners to operationalize the National Girls’ Education Strategy, which includes publicity, advocacy, marketing, public relations, branding, the arts (music, song, dance, theatre) and community social mobilization at all levels.


Lead Implementing Organization(s)

Location(s)

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan

Government Affiliation

Government-affiliated program

Years

2020 - 2021

Partner(s)

UNICEF South Sudan, the South Sudan National Task Force on COVID-19 and local non-governmental organizations, the European Union, the Federal, Republic of Germany, the Government of Canada, the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden

Ministry Affiliation

Unknown

Funder(s)

Not applicable or unknown

COVID-19 Response

New for COVID-19

Geographic Scope

National

Areas of Work Back to Top

Education areas

Attainment

  • Primary enrollment
  • Secondary Enrollment

Cross-cutting areas

  • COVID-19 Response
  • Emergencies and protracted crises
  • WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene)

Program participants

Target Audience(s)

Boys out of school, Girls out of school, Youth

Age

Not applicable or unknown

School Enrolment Status

All out of school

School Level

  • Lower primary
  • Upper primary
  • Lower secondary
  • Upper secondary

Other populations reached

Not applicable or unknown

Participants include

Not applicable or unknown

Program Approaches Back to Top

Community engagement/advocacy/sensitization

  • Mothers' clubs

Curriculum/learning

  • Increased availability of learning materials

Women's empowerment programs

  • Advocacy/action

Program Goals Back to Top

Education goals

  • Increased re-enrolment in school among out-of-school children

Cross-cutting goals

Not applicable or unknown