(Tambura) – More than 700 children have dropped out of school in Tambura County, Western Equatoria State, during the first term of the academic year, education officials confirmed this week. The figures highlight growing concern over the impact of conflict, displacement, and poverty on education in South Sudan.
Mathew Kassiano, the County Education Director, said a total of 759 students left school between January and April, with girls making up the majority—462 in total. He attributed the high dropout rate to multiple factors, including food shortages, insecurity, displacement, and a lack of essential learning materials.
“Our children are learning under trees without chalkboards, books, clean water, or proper classrooms,” Kassiano said. “Many of them come from displaced families living in camps, where trauma affects not only the students but also the teachers.”
Tambura has faced repeated waves of violence and displacement in recent years. Thousands of families have been forced from their homes, and many now live in overcrowded sites for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Conditions in these settlements are harsh, with limited access to basic services such as healthcare, clean water, and education.
Kassiano stressed that without immediate support, the dropout rate could worsen. He called on the government and humanitarian organisations to increase aid, including providing food in schools, psychological support for children affected by conflict, and basic supplies like textbooks and desks.
“We are calling for peace and security to allow children to attend school safely,” Kassiano said. “We also need school feeding programmes to help retain students, boreholes to provide clean water, and urgent support for children learning in IDP centres and under trees.”
He noted that education in the county is struggling due to the lack of permanent structures. Many schools operate without classrooms, with students attending lessons outdoors. Teachers often lack salaries, teaching tools, and the training needed to support traumatised learners.
With the local economy under pressure and limited government funding, education officials say they are depending on humanitarian partners to fill the gap.
The dropout figures in Tambura mirror broader challenges facing education across South Sudan. According to the Ministry of General Education, school attendance remains fragile, especially in areas affected by conflict. Insecurity and displacement continue to prevent many children from completing their studies, particularly girls, who face additional barriers such as early marriage and domestic duties.
Education experts say that unless urgent investment is made in rural education, South Sudan risks losing a generation of learners, especially in areas like Western Equatoria where instability and hunger are common.
