Monday, June 1, 2009

ECSS Elementary Schools Report

Starting the Southern Sudanese's education system after years of war is an emergency. The Evangelical Church of South Sudan (ECSS) thinks that supporting education is one of the best ways to address the issue of Islamization of the country, accumulated illiteracy, war orphans, inter and intra tribal conflicts, poverty, cattle raiding and AIDS.


As the social infrastructure of Southern Sudan continues to disintegrate it remains insufficient to meet the basic needs of communities. Evangelical Church of South Sudan (ECSS) works to strengthen the country's education system through its ECSS Rural and Urban Development Outreach (ERUDO) ministry.


Southern Sudan's education system has been shattered by years of harsh economic difficulties and the devastation caused by the 45 year old war. The condition of under trees learning system has deteriorated to such an extent that they do not provide a safe learning and teaching environment specially during rain period. In addition, there is a severe shortage of school supplies, classroom furniture and textbooks. To make it worse, volunteered teachers lack salaries and have inadequate training.


Basically, providing access to quality education for war-affected children and youth is a key focus area in ECSS's ERUDO ministry in Eastern Equatoria State, Southern Sudan. The ERUDO ministry focuses on strengthening and supporting the Southern Sudan's educational system by instilling Christian values to the children, parents/guardians and volunteered teachers.


ECSS believes that education is the basic right of every child and the key to a brighter future for all children and youth, especially the orphans who constitute 40% of the three elementary schools ECSS is running.