South Sudan's Education Minister Represents Africa at UNESCO Global Education Summit

• Jul 13, 2026

Title: South Sudan's Education Minister Represents Africa at UNESCO Global Education Summit

Paris, France | July 2026, The Minister of General Education and Instruction, Hon. Dr. Kuyok Abol Kuyok, concluded a series of high-level engagements at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, reaffirming South Sudan's commitment to strengthening its education system through international partnerships, global policy dialogue, and increased investment in education.

As one of the three African representatives on the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) High-Level Steering Committee (HLSC), Hon. Dr. Kuyok participated in the UNESCO Transforming Education Summit 4+: System Transformation and Resilience for SDG4+4. The summit, co-chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and attended by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, brought together global leaders to assess progress toward achieving SDG4 and to shape the post-2030 education agenda.

The conference reaffirmed the international community's commitment to mobilizing greater resources for education, with particular emphasis on supporting education systems in crisis-affected countries. Discussions focused on building resilient education systems capable of ensuring equitable, inclusive, and quality education for all.

On the margins of the summit, Hon. Dr. Kuyok held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Maysa Jalbout, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW), to discuss preparations for the forthcoming Phase III of South Sudan's Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP). The planned ECW investment is expected to consolidate and expand the achievements realized under the previous phases of the programme, further improving access to quality education for children affected by conflict and other emergencies.

During the meeting, Ms. Jalbout also expressed her intention to visit South Sudan in the near future, accompanied by development partners and donor representatives, to strengthen collaboration and deepen support for the country's education sector.

In addition to the high-level policy engagements, Hon. Dr. Kuyok joined South Sudan's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, UNESCO's South Sudan Office, and the UNESCO Secretariat in commemorating South Sudan's 15th Independence Anniversary at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The celebration brought together UNESCO delegates and international partners to recognize the country's progress since independence and to highlight UNESCO's continued support for education, culture, science, and sustainable development in South Sudan.

Addressing participants during the commemoration, the Minister reaffirmed the Government's commitment to transforming education as a foundation for peace, resilience, and national development. He emphasized the importance of sustained international cooperation in ensuring that every child in South Sudan has access to safe, inclusive, and quality education.

The Minister's participation in these engagements reflects South Sudan's growing role in regional and global education dialogue while strengthening partnerships that will support the country's efforts to build a resilient and inclusive education system aligned with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.