UNESCO: No matter your tribe or faction, we must come together to promote #literacy in #SouthSudan

Sep 08, 2017, 06:10 AM

The United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO), a key partner in the fight against illiteracy in South Sudan is pressing the government and the people of South Sudan to make education a priority.

On this #LiteracyDay, Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO Country Representative in #SouthSudan says ethnicity or political affiliation should play no part in access to education, stressing that “education is the key to sustainable development and peace.”

UNESCO estimates that only 2.7 million people above the age of 15 in South Sudan can read and write.

Alam warns that up to 1.8mln out-of-school children in South Sudan are especially more prone to conflict.

In this interview with Philip Wani, Sardar Umar Alam explains more on why education is so important for the fragile nation, specifically at this time.