Education officials in Aweil North County of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have called for the immediate construction of four secondary schools to cater for the increasing number of students.

The county currently has five government and three private secondary schools, catering for over 1,700 secondary school students enrolled before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, the county education director, Joseph Anei confirmed the high number of students and urged the state government to urgently address the problem.

He said before the coronavirus outbreak, Ariath, Mayen Ulem, Gokmachar and Malual Center Payams were selected to get new secondary schools in the county.

“Yes, we have some areas that need secondary schools in Aweil North County. Those areas are Gokmachar, Mayen Ulem, Ariath and Malual Center Payams. Before the coronavirus outbreak, I requested the Education ministry to build schools in those areas,” Anei explained.

Angok Achuol Barjok, a lawmaker representing Malual Center in the state legislative assembly, said that his area has only one secondary school.

 “There are a few primary schools and only one secondary school. So, we are calling upon the new governor to prioritize education to bring stability to our local communities,” he said.

For his part, Ceaser Atem Biajo, the director-general in the Education ministry welcomed calls for the construction of more secondary schools.

“The ministry wants more secondary schools established. There are community schools that need to be turned into government schools so that many students get education opportunities,” he explained.