Author: Michael Daniel | Published: 10 hours ago
Students parade at Supiri Secondary School before the 2022-2023 examination. March 20 2023. (Photo: Moyo Jacob).
The Ministry of General Education and Instruction says more than 3,400 students, including over 1,100 females, have enrolled in the Accelerated Secondary Education Program (ASEP) across the country.
The program offers a two-year secondary education track instead of the regular four years.
Minister Kuyok Abol Kuyok said the initiative targets teachers and school dropouts who lack a secondary education qualification.
Speaking during the launch of condensed Accelerated Secondary Education Program textbooks with development partners, Minister Kuyok said the program will empower thousands of locals and refugees, in line with the education transformation directives of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
“We are proud to report that a total of 3,433 learners including 1,193 female learners are now enrolled across 58 ASEP centres nationwide. Enrolment is ongoing until a target of 4,000 teachers who do not have secondary education qualification is achieved. The program is in line with the directive of His Excellency the President,” he said.
Representing the World Bank, which funds the program, Viola Riek said the Accelerated Secondary Education Program focuses on inclusive education, especially for women.
She said one of the project’s goals is to ensure that 35% of learners are female, so more women can be trained to become teachers.
“The project has targets that I would like to highlight. One of them is the affirmative action for ensuring that 35% of women are able to be trained to become teachers and that also falls under ASEP. At the end, 35% of the learners must be female learners,” Riek said.
Eldino Sakondo, Deputy Country Director for Windle Trust International, which also supports the program, said ASEP will help address the national shortage of qualified primary school teachers.
“The ASEP initiative continues to be a flagship program for the Ministry, addressing the urgent need for qualified teachers and promoting inclusive education across the country,” Sakondo said.
