New York, US - The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Saturday urged South Sudan to dedicate resources to address shortfalls in its educational sector. UNESCO, which welcomed South Sudan as its newest member state, said the country had some of the worst indicators for education levels in the world. PANA learnt that at a ceremony in Paris, France, where UNESCO is holding its general conference, the South Sudanese flag was raised alongside those of UNESCO's other 193 member states. The ceremony took place two days after South Sudan completed the procedures for ratifying the agency's constitution.

In her welcome message, UNESCO Director-General, Ms. Irina Bokova, noted that the country of eight million people faces 'immense challenges', but pledged that the agency would support the nation to strengthen its education system and train teachers and other education professionals.

'UNESCO, through its International Institute for Educational Planning, will work with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to draw up a plan to help South Sudanese authorities tackle their major education needs,' she stated.

She said: 'The latest global monitoring report on education from UNESCO, released in June, found that South Sudan is last in the world league table for enrolment in secondary education and second from last for net enrolment in primary-level education'.

Bokova also said that, 'textbooks are in short supply, usable classrooms unavailable and there are not nearly enough trained teachers'.

'Women and girls are particularly badly affected. Just eight per cent of women in South Sudan know how to read and write and there are estimated to be only 400 girls in the last grade of secondary school across the impoverished country,' the UNESCO chief added.

Pana 30/10/2011