Juba, South Sudan
August 5, 2022 — South Sudan’s Education Sector has been allocated an increased budget of more than 107 billion pounds for the first time in the annual national budget.
The figure was allocated from the 1.3 trillion pounds budget tabled to the National Parliament in Juba on Wednesday morning.
In reports seen by Nyamilepdia, public expenditure on education in South Sudan is one of the lowest in the world.
The sector is being faced by low investment and low capacity, with its administration and management undermined significantly by conflicts in the country.
Country’s Minister of Finance and Planning, Agak Achuil said the government is very committed to give education sector more attention and priority this time around.
“The total expenditure proposal for the financial year 2022/2023 is 1.3 trillion SSP. The education sector is given 107.8 billion SSP, the health sector is allocated 33.7 billion SSP. The infrastructure sector is given 12.5 billion SSP,” Finance Minister Agak said in Juba on Wednesday.
Agak said the budget prioritizes the implementation of the revitalized peace deal and developmental projects such as infrastructural development.
About ten sectors in the government namely – the Health, Economic, Education, Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Public Administration, Rule of Law, Security and Social and Humanitarian Affairs have been allocated different shares.
Public Administration sector scoops the highest budget of 117.3 billion pounds while the Accountability sector received the least budget of 2.3 billion pounds.
According to country’s Bill of Rights especially General Education Act 2012, basic education “must be free and compulsory to all children in the country.”
The Act stipulates also that the government’s role to encourage a culture of innovation, develop and promote a general scientific approach in education.
