Education, more than the alphabet
As COVID-19 has temporarily closed schools in South Sudan and across the globe, the value of school and education has never been more apparent.
School, is where you learn your ABC, calculation, languages, science and a thousand things that are not in any textbook. School is where you learn social skills and make friends that will be with you for life. It is a place where children can play, use their creativity and be a child – a break from household chores.
Education is an important protection system preventing children from being married off early and early pregnancies. Schools have protective walls preventing exploitation and abuse. Teacher’s care for children in distress is like balm on sore skin, it eases the pain while the wound is healing.
In South Sudan, many children get their only meal per day at school and the schoolyard is where they get water for the family. Education is life-changing and essential, a basic human right and crucial humanitarian assistance.
While we are hoping for schools to reopen in South Sudan as quickly as possible, let’s learn about and appreciate the value of education and going to school.
It’s about playing
Playing is so much more than passing time. Playing is stimulating children's creativity; it is important for improving social and human relationship skills; it improves eye-hand coordination, balance and body control. Many of the things we take for granted as adults we learned as children through playing. Play is an important part of the school day because the children continue their development, but they also need a break from class in order to refocus and continue their learning.
It’s about nurturing dreams and hope
Education opens the door to new opportunities. Basic skills such as reading and writing are essential for most jobs today, and by acquiring those skills you broaden your options. Basic education is also the door to higher education and a new set of opportunities. Through education, dreams can come true.
“Peace, schools and good teachers”
It’s about support and protection
Education is protection. The walls of the schools are protecting children on the inside from exploitation and abuse. Keeping girls in school is protecting them from harmful practises such as early marriage and early pregnancies. The nearby school is also where many children in South Sudan get their only meal per day. For the many vulnerable children who are struggling, school is the place where they find the support and courage to pull through.
It’s about belonging
School, is where you spend time with your peers, make new friends and create your own community. School is where you will discover you are not alone fighting your battles, and you can join hands fighting them together. School is where you will experience many firsts, but never alone – always together.
And above all, it’s about child rights
In 1989, world leaders made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement on childhood.
Children have the right to an education. Discipline in schools should respect children’s human dignity. Primary education should be free. Wealthier countries should help poorer countries achieve this.
