(Tonj South) – Pupils from Bongo Primary School in Tonj South County, Warrap State, came out in large numbers on Tuesday, 1 July 2025, to clear the overgrown grass surrounding the County Education Director’s office. The voluntary act was initiated and organised by the students themselves.
James Agei Dhieu, the head boy of the school, told reporters that the pupils took the initiative without any external prompting. He explained that their action was meant to promote hygiene both at school and at home and to lead by example in keeping their environment clean.
James encouraged his fellow pupils across the county to take part in such activities and not to be idle. He emphasised that developing good habits, such as keeping surroundings tidy, helps build personal discipline and responsibility from a young age.
Head girl Mariam Rian Michael echoed similar sentiments. She said the pupils participated willingly, with no expectation of reward. Their aim, she said, was to improve the environment around the education offices and demonstrate the importance of taking care of public spaces.
The pupils’ actions were met with praise from their school and local education officials. Miss Magdalena Angong, a teacher responsible for discipline at Bongo Primary School, commended the students for their initiative. She stressed the importance of manual work in building character, saying that when children are not taught to be productive, they may instead turn to harmful behaviour.
Joseph Mayom, the Tonj South County Education Inspector, also applauded the pupils’ efforts. He described their action as a “surprise initiative” that brought pride to the education sector. In appreciation of their civic spirit, Mr. Mayom announced the donation of 30 textbooks to each of the three upper primary classes: P5, P6, and P7.
While Mr. Mayom made clear that the books were not a reward, he described them as a gesture of gratitude from the County Education Department to support the pupils’ academic growth. The books are to be officially handed over to the head boy and head girl at a small event scheduled for tomorrow at the Tonj South County Education Office.
Local social media platforms lit up with praise following reports of the pupils’ efforts. Community members, teachers, and leaders commended the students, describing their work as inspiring and a model for others in the country.
