For the last four years, South Sudan has
faced unprecedented flash floods affecting several infrastructures including
schools and other educational facilities. Machour primary school in Machour
Payam, Yirol East County is one of over 800 schools affected country wide. Five
classrooms and one office block were severely destroyed by floods and strong
storms. With roofs completely blown off, the school was forced to operate
outside under tree shades. Shortage of instructional materials such
blackboards, chalks, textbooks, charts and insufficient teachers, and classroom
facilities, like furniture further made it a daunting task to facilitate
learning. As a result, students lost interest to continue studies. Many students
dropped out of school while a few others joined other schools.
The second phase of ECW’s MYRP program that
commenced in 2023 presented a ray of hope. Help Education South Sudan (HESS),
an implementing partner worked with FCA and renovated classroom blocks and
other school infrastructures to resuscitate normal school operations. Program
support also included training school management team on disaster management,
school planning and oversight to sustain learning in the event of future
shocks. As part of continuous professional development, HESS trained eight
teachers to improve their facilitation skills in delivering teaching and
learning.
By the second quarter of 2024, Machuor
primary school had registered additional enrolment at 841 students, from 700.
The rehabilitated structures not only attracted new learners but additional
teachers who have since joined the school and improved the teacher student
ratio (1:38). In the second term of 2024, Machuor primary school had registered
22 teachers. The refurbishment of classrooms and offices, and strategies
teachers adopted from the training on lesson planning, class management and
students’ motivation and engagement significantly influenced quality of
learning in the school.
