(TONJ) – The Governor of Warrap State, Ambassador Bol Wek, has promised to prioritise education and support local schools despite the ongoing security challenges affecting parts of the state. During a recent visit to Makerdit Primary School in Tonj Town, Governor Wek reassured learners and the wider community that his administration remains committed to ensuring children access education and help bring long-term change to society.
Makerdit Primary School is a historic institution in Warrap, once attended by some of the country’s national liberators. Addressing pupils at the school, Governor Wek underscored the importance of education in transforming communities from violence to peace.
“I want you to prioritise your education,” he told the students. “Because 20 years from now, this school can produce other national leaders at the calibre of President Kiir.”
He encouraged learners to aim high and imagine themselves as future engineers, managers, sports champions, or business leaders. The governor noted that Warrap State is rich in resources and emphasised the need for well-educated individuals to manage and harness these resources for national development.
Governor Wek pledged that the state government would continue providing support, within its available means, to improve the learning environment at Makerdit Primary School. He also highlighted the symbolic importance of the school as a place that has produced figures in South Sudan’s history, urging pupils to believe in their potential and to see themselves as future leaders.
In his remarks, the governor also called on the learners to pray for him as he continues leading peace efforts in the state.
“I am on a peace mission,” he said. “Pray for me to succeed in ending communal conflicts in Warrap State because I am saddened by information that even school going children who are our future are directly affected.”
His visit to Tonj follows a recent escalation of violence in the Greater Tonj area, which led to the deaths of at least eight people. In response to the crisis, the state government announced a temporary relocation of its seat to Greater Tonj in a move designed to directly address the region’s insecurity.
Warrap State Minister of Information, Mamer Bath Marol, said in a statement on Monday that the government’s relocation was a show of commitment to finding a long term solution to the recurring communal violence.
“As an assurance to the public, the state government is now relocating its seat to the scene of the violence as an alternative approach,” he said.
The state government will continue operating in Greater Tonj until sustainable peace is achieved. Governor Wek’s education pledge comes at a time when insecurity continues to disrupt normal life in the state, including the functioning of schools and public services.
Key Commitments from Governor Bol Wek’s Visit to Makerdit Primary School
| Commitment Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Education Support | State to provide assistance to improve school conditions |
| Leadership Encouragement | Learners urged to aspire to national leadership roles |
| Peace Appeal | Governor seeks prayers for ongoing peace mission in Warrap |
| Government Relocation | Temporary relocation of state administration to Greater Tonj |
| Community Engagement | Assurance of continued presence until violence is addressed |