(POCHALLA) – In the border town of Pochalla, located within South Sudan’s Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), girls and women are raising urgent concerns about the lack of access to education, healthcare, and basic protection. Many say their rights are being denied due to longstanding cultural practices, widespread poverty, and isolation from the rest of the country.
Pochalla is part of a special administrative region carved out in 2014 from Jonglei State to improve public service delivery. Yet, more than a decade later, the area remains underserved, particularly when it comes to education and health services for women and girls.
School aged girls interviewed in Pochalla Town said they feel overlooked and unsupported, especially in comparison to boys. Many cited the overwhelming burden of domestic chores, lack of school infrastructure, and poverty as major obstacles to completing their education.
Bereb John Nyigwo, a young girl from Pochalla, said girls often lose hope of continuing their education beyond primary level.
“Secondary and university education are missing. Even with primary school, a girl may take three years to move to the next level due to all the housework,” she explained. “We cook, fetch water, and lack financial support. Girls are not given the same attention as boys.”
Bereb also highlighted the effects of insecurity and poverty on education access. Recently, four girls aged between 16 and 20 were abducted while trying to travel to Ethiopia to sit for secondary school examinations.
“Besides school fees, we need money for clothes, school supplies, and sanitary items. Many girls get help from boys who later marry them. Insecurity also restricts movement,” she added.
According to South Sudan’s constitution, women and girls are entitled to health, education, and equal rights. However, this legal protection is not translating into real-world change in remote areas like Pochalla.
Sunday Obang, 24, said she had no choice but to leave school and get married due to the absence of a local secondary school.
“I dropped out because there was no secondary school. After giving birth, I had to struggle to find soap and other needs. Only this year has a secondary school been introduced,” she said. “Boys can travel to Ethiopia for school, but girls can’t unless they have trusted relatives there. We need both formal and vocational education here.”
Sabra Obang Owety, another local woman, blamed underpaid teachers and poor healthcare services for the community’s hardships.
“Teachers are not paid, so they don’t teach, and this affects education. There are no ambulances for pregnant women with complications. We are asking the government to support us,” she said.
Pochalla South County Commissioner Othow Okoti acknowledged the challenges women and girls face, citing geographical isolation and economic hardship as the main barriers.
“Pochalla is cut off. Supplies must be flown in, and air transport costs are extremely high at SSP 18,000 per kilogram, which is about USD 3.91,” he said. “Our girls’ rights are not gifts. They are inborn. What is missing is empowerment, made worse by our economic situation.”
| Item | Cost in SSP | Cost in USD (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kg of air cargo | 18,000 SSP | $3.91 |
| Monthly teacher salary (avg est.) | ~60,000 SSP | $13.04 |
| Sanitary supplies (monthly) | ~5,000 SSP | $1.09 |
Civil society leaders are also speaking out. Bol Deng Bol, Executive Director of INTREPID South Sudan, urged government intervention.
“Our constitution grants girls full rights to education and health. They should not be married off by force,” he said. “But the reality is, many girls are denied their rights without consequences. We appeal to the government and partners to prioritise support.”
