UK Financial Aid to Support Girls in All Catholic Schools in South Sudanese Archdiocese

In the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Mr. Wani said, there are twelve primary schools and two secondary schools and all of them have benefited from the UK financial subsidy.

Speaking to ACI Africa at the beginning of the week, the leader of the Head Teachers’ Council in the Metropolitan Archdiocese explained that GESS cash transfer is not intended to be used by the learners in school but to meet expenses incurred by parents and guardians. 

“The transfer is only to support the girl from what they need at home. Things like the sanitary pads, the pants, their inner dresses and sleepers to make them look like other girls,” he said, and added, “In that way, girls will not be able to be leeward with men because of provisions.”

Like in government, private and community-based schools in South Sudan, girls in Catholic institutions, according to Wani, received 3,300 South Sudanese pounds ($10) each, twice a year. The ongoing financial aid started in 2017 with a small amount and advanced to a cash transfer of 3,300 pounds to each girl this year.

At St. Joseph’s Primary school, Mr. Wani said, there are 391 girls and if multiplied by 3,300 pounds, it becomes a very large amount provided by the UK.

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“They have a system; this system is very effective for cash transfer because they have the school enrolment file whereby all the names of the schools are written in,” Mr. Wani said.

He added, “This enrollment is given to them (GESS) and they will have to screen the names of the girls from primary five to eight, then it will come back with the names of the girls from primary five to eight with their receipts.”

“These receipts have got three duplicates, one is to remain in a receipt book, one is to go to them (UK aid) and one is to go to the girls,” he said, explaining how records are kept for transparency and accountability. 

With the outbreak of COVID-19, the leadership of GESS decided to transfer the cash to girls in order to assist themselves with it during the lockdown in the East-Central African nation.

“During the time of COVID-19 lockdown, the minister of education thought it wise to give the girls UK aid,” Mr. Wani said and added, “The girls were given announcement over the radio to come back to school and collect their cash according to the arrangement.”  

The impact of the financial subsidy is great because the girls are from very poor families where parents and guardians are unable to supply all the needs of their children, says Wani.