Radio Miraya
2779: Girls' Education South Sudan prepares for 2024 cash transfers, includes boys with disabilities
[Music] Oh yeah, it's a very good morning. It's just a quarter past eight a.m. Well, this seems to have a nation's biggest conversations begin every morning. My name is Aaron LaSouba. I come back from the new summary there. And welcome to the last hour of the Miraya breakfast show. Now we continue with our discussions here on Radio Miraya. Remember, you can also add your views on the conversations that we are having here on the program. By sending me an SMS on 0-9-1-2-1-7-7-1-4-1 now. The Girls' Education South Sudan is on course for this year. The program will be starting the cash transfer process. And there are some new developments, and we want to discuss that now. In the studio we have Ms. Kobe Bentley, the British Embassy Development Director and Mr. Daniel Gessaka, Girls' Education South Indian Team Leader. Welcome to the program, and thank you so much for making our temps speak to us today. Good morning. Good morning, and thanks for having us. Right. So let's start with you Gessaka. By going back to the Girls' Education Southstone Program objectives, bring us a speed with the aim of the cash transfers and how does this work? Thank you so much, Aaron, for having us again this morning. The Graduate Education South Sudan started way back 10 years ago in 2013. During that time, the data we had in the country showed that we only had like three girls out of 10, all 30 out of 100, and which needed an intervention to address that challenge. And then the program which is funded by the FCDO British Government started at that time, and one of the objectives then was to address and trying to understand what was the challenge, the girls' enrollment was very low at that time. And we came up with one of the programs was the cash transfers. Of course, the data component, which was competition grants, we support the school environment, we had a cult of learning looking at the issue of teachers, training of teachers, also looking at behavior change to trying to address the behavior of norms and encouraging parents to take their girls to school. And what you can see that we've seen a tremendous improvement over time from where we were. Today, we actually have more girls in primary schools than boys. Thank you so much. And continuing. Yes, coming to you, Coby. This year, you are making adjustments to the program. Just tell us how this will be different. Yeah, thanks, Irene. Great to be with you this morning. So we are making some changes this year. We will be paying the cash transfers to all girls in primary seven through to S4. So that's a little bit of a change. It's a smaller number of grades that will receive the support. We are also paying the cash transfers to those in the accelerated learning program, levels three and four, and for the first time to children with disabilities in those same grades, primary seven to senior four. There's a number of reasons for the changes. On the one hand, we, like everybody, have budget constraints and want to make sure that we use the resources we have as efficiently as possible to address the objectives of the program. The cash transfers really aim at helping girls to overcome some of the financial barriers that they face in attending school. I met some girls last year who told me that they used it for learning materials. They also used it for hygiene products. They used it to help at home sometimes. We know that those financial burdens get harder as girls get older, so particularly in the higher levels of primary school and in that transition from primary to secondary school, which is really important to keep girls there, and that's one of the reasons behind the change. So why are the changes? Because we're focusing on those up years at primary and at secondary, where the girls are older and where those financial burdens really start to kind of kick in, that's when it's, you know, there's more pressure for girls to get married early to drop out of school and contribute to homes in other ways because of the opportunity cost sometimes that girls face and go into school. So making sure that we really kind of protect the cash transfers for girls in those levels can have that really kind of more transformational impact on equity, which is a priority for us. Right, and Daniel, since you pay these girls in SSP and also looking at how the SSP has lots of value, is the amount changing or? Yeah, it does. What we do normally, we keep our money in hard currency as long as possible, and we also, up to the point where we want to pay the girls, then we will also ensure that we girls get value for money by getting very competitive rates. If you look at over the years, we've never paid the same amount. We've been, I think there's another point a copy was saying in terms of protecting the value. One of the things, as you talk about the resources being constrained, you ask yourself, do you want to spread the thing? Or you want to put the money where there's high need? Right. Remember, I mentioned that we have almost gender parity in primary schools in most the states. Some states may be having a bit of a challenge. But when you also look at the data, as you go up, the numbers are still. If you look, for example, as the examinations, which we have tremendous improvement, we only had around 46% of those who sat examination over guards. That's why you are looking at, you need them to target these upper classes, where they're still, there's a challenge, which aligns with the objective. So in terms of that payment, that guards get assured that we will give them value for money and ensure that what they're getting will be able to address the economic needs or the things which they wanted to do. Right. Thank you, Colby. You mentioned including children with disabilities. Does this include boys or just the girls with disabilities? No, that's girls and boys who are registered with disabilities in those same grades. So primary seven, three to S four. And that's because we recognize that the challenges faced by those children are out of school. That's really falling on girls still, but also on children with disabilities. So in line with our equity objective and to ensure that all children can get 12 years of education, that's our medium term ambition. We're including children with disabilities, boys as well, for the first time. Right. Thank you, Colby, for that. Daniel, you started the validation process in the week of the fast of July, right? So just tell us more about the validation and what happened during the process. And, yeah, how is it going? Thank you so much. That's a very good question. I think when we talk about validation, of course, it's a big word. What does it mean? Yeah. Normally, there's a process we follow to ensure you talk to the banks, those who are in the banking sector, they're something they call KYC, know your customer. Mm-hmm. And for our case, when the school year starts, we visit the schools. We have a team who visit the schools. And at this year, from last year and at this year, we have also improved on how we are doing that enrollment or on boarding of our learners, where we've developed a tool, an application. We're using the mobile phones to be able to go to schools and the CITO's learners who are there, and learning, and to take their details. Then once we take their details, these names, then they are synchronized to the system. We then have all the data of how many children are enrolled into the country, how many girls are in each class, all the details of the individual learners. Once we have all this information, of course, one other process we need is the attendance reporting, where we do daily attendance registers are marked, but you also have an SMS sent to the system, that these learners are there. Now, when we talk about validation, now we go back in that engagement which we started at the beginning of the year, and they check that the details we have are correct. The girls, we have in the system, and everything which we have, age, names are correct. And once we ascertain all those details, our girls then is given what we call a cost transfer enrollment form, to which means they have this document to waiting for the payment. So that's the process which we started going on now in the country, and it will go up to only the meeting next month. After that, then we will restart the payment. Just to jump in, so I think one of the things Daniel mentioned there was the cash transfer enrollment form that the girls get at the end of that. It's really important that they hold on to that, because that's the kind of proof that they were validated at the beginning, and to actually get the payment, they'll need that. And the other thing I just wanted to mention, for the UK and for the other donors, that are Fund the Girls Education South Sudan program, that it's really important that that process runs smoothly and that there's no fraud or kind of problems in that. And if anyone has any concerns about that, there's a hotline that people can call to report any concerns, and perhaps we can advertise that hotline number after the show. I can read it now if you'd like to. Great. Thank you, and I'm here for MTN. The number is plus two one one nine two eight five two zero eight two four, and with Zane the number is plus two one one nine one seven six four seven eight nine one. Okay, I'll put that again, please. With MTN it's plus two one one nine two eight five two zero eight two four, and with Zane that's plus two one one nine one seven six four seven eight nine one. Seven eight four one nine one nine one. Okay, so those are the numbers. Well, we conclude I will be reading them out to you. Yes, we continue with the girls education South Sudan conversation here on the Miraya breakfast show. Remember, this is where the nation's biggest conversations begin every morning. Yes, Daniel, I just wanted to find out which schools are you able to reach out to and from which parts of the country? The program is national, it's truly national. It's all the 10 states. All the 10 states are in this video. Right. Okay, yes, copy. Going into the future, we understand that there will be a new program by the UK government education for all south Sudan is just bringing us a speed about that. Yeah, so the girls education South Sudan program is coming to an end this year. That's a normal part of programming cycles, programs have a certain duration, and then to to kind of keep activities going, we need to get new programs approved by seniors in all of our organizations. So the next program will be for another five years. It's called education for all south Sudan. And we will continue to really focus on kind of equity in education. We expect to continue the cash transfers again, focusing at the upper levels of primary into secondary and for children with disability. We also really want to kind of think about how we support improvements to quality of education, and that's something that we're talking to the Ministry of General Education and Instruction about for both boys and girls. And boys currently still benefit from all the other interventions and activities that happen in the school. I think it's really important to emphasize that. And we will be through the next phase of programming looking to work with the ministry as well as with kind of states, communities and the schools themselves to focus on quality. But also to kind of see, can we test some ways of exploring what some of the other barriers are that stop children from going to school? How can we kind of think of ways that will really support and tackle those? And tackle issues such as kind of climate change, for example. We know that climate impacts have a real impact on education in this country. Is there more we can do to explore how to make the education system more climate resilient? So there's some of the new ideas we want to kind of focus on in the next program as well as continuing the interventions that we know work from the Girls' Education South Sudan program. Right, so are we saying goodbye to Girls' Education Souths from Project for Good or? It will move into the new program. So the new program will carry on some of the good from Girls' Education South Sudan. It will have a new name, that's how programming cycles work. And then we will add some new ideas in there as well. Right, Daniel, why is it important for the upcoming program to focus both on teachers and students? That's a very good question. Because as you know, we've been one of the things we've been doing when we talk about the special cost transfers, you are stimulating demand for education. And what you have seen, learners are coming, they're willing to learn. They're always a question to ask when these learners come, what are they getting? As you know that the statistics of the qualified teachers in this country are very low. Right. So I think what could be saying, especially looking at that teacher continuous professional development for teachers is essential. There's something else which I think the program started doing and we're partnering with the Ministry, where we talk about public financial management, trying to see that whatever resources the least from the Ministry of Finance, where the teachers are like this, indeed reach the teachers, working with the Ministry to ensure that the data capabilities there. Because if you only address learners and the girls' children's abilities and you bring them to school, but there's nothing they're getting there, it's not going to be very helpful for them in terms of the quality for learning. So I think we are excited looking forward into the new program. And maybe just to add one thing there to what Daniel was saying, so the public financial management aspect of any essential service is really important to make sure that the money that is made available through the domestic budget is used effectively and efficiently. But the other thing I would like to say is one of the conversations that we have as a development partner, often with the Government of South Sudan, is that we would like them to invest more money in education themselves. So the funds that we and other donors put into the system should be a complement to not a substitute for government investment in the system. Unfortunately, there isn't enough government investment in education at the moment, and we're really kind of encouraging the government to think particularly as they go into this budget year, despite some of the economic constraints we know the country is facing, to really think about how they can invest more resources in education and other essential services to meet the needs of the South Sudanese people. Right, Colby and Daniel, I'll be getting back to you. We'll be having the news headlines shortly. Just hold your thoughts there. We'll be coming back for the final words as we conclude this conversation. Stay tuned. Good morning. This is where the nation's biggest conversations begin every morning. Back to fuel charge. What do you know about the Miraya breakfast show, my early morning news point? They will be more able to fight successfully for the full range of their human rights, including the right to fully participate in the decisions that shape society. It is my best source of early morning news updates. I simply love the music played on the Miraya breakfast show. Breakfast show news headlines. A very good morning. It's 8.30am. President Sarakir has fired the Minister of Finance and Planning, Daniel Awo. After four months in office, in a Republican decree announced on the National Television on Wednesday evening, President Curie replaced all with the Marial Dang. In a separate decree, the President relieved the managing director of Nile Petroleum Corporation, Nile Pet, Bernard Amwar, McCain. While Bernard has been replaced by Mohammed Benjamin Lino, President Sarakir, also replaced the undersecretaries in the Ministry of Health and Petroleum. While diplomatic missions operating in South Sudan have issued a joint statement expressing concerns over the passage of the National Security Bill by the National Parliament last week. A transitional National Legislative Assembly passed a bill with Article 54 and 55 that gives the National Security powers of arrest without warrant, now the embassies of Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom and the United States say National Security Services bill will significantly limit the political and civic freedom needed for genuine and peaceful elections. While finally the National Relief and Rehabilitation Commission has described the humanitarian situation of vulnerable groups around Juba as dire. The RSC started distributing food assistance donated by Saudi King Salman Center on Wednesday to some 7,000 families in IDP camps and orphanage homes in Juba. Well, that's it for the news headlines. Good morning. You're listening to the Mariah Breakfast Show. And this is where the nation's biggest conversations begin every morning. And the studio with me, I have Miss Colby Bentley, who is a British Embassy Development Director and Mr Daniel Gezaka, Girls Education, South Sudan Team Leader and of course the Girls Education, South Sudan is on course for this year. The program will be starting the cash transfer process and there are some new developments which we have already looked at. And as we conclude our conversations, yes Gezaka, what are your final words to the parents and teachers, particularly on the ongoing validations and also the other things that you would like them to know about? Thank you so much. I think my message, especially when talking about validation, is about the quality of that validation. We don't want a girl who is not supposed to be given the cash transfer environment form to get that environment form. We only want the girls who are enrolled in the class as we have said. That's from Prayman 7 to Senior 4, LB Level 3 and the 4 and the children living with disabilities from P7, because one of the challenges which we continue to encourage schools. When we get the data, which is accurate, at least from the government and the government partners, we know what's the challenge instead of trying to cheat and say that you have this high number of girls who are not existing. You are doing a disservice to those children with the community, so I think we want to call for the integrity of the process, the parents to support. You see another thing which maybe I need to mention, when the teacher cheats and they know you are giving a girl who may be in lower classes or sit-ups, you are actually ruining the integrity. The example we are setting before our children is very bad. I think we have many good teachers out there who are supporting and the parents, but also we have a few elements who try at any cost to cheat the system and I want to call them and encourage them that we get the quality data that only girls benefit who are in those classes and children living with disabilities in those classes. Thank you. I just want to conclude by saying that girls' education is really important. We know that it's a game changer. It changes not just the lives of girls, but of their families, their communities and can make a really big contribution to society as well. And South Sudan needs that. It needs people who can become leaders of today and tomorrow and help to support sustainable development here in South Sudan. So the cash transfers is a really important way of getting girls into school, helping them to stay in school, complete primary and move to senior secondary school. And I met some girl learners on Monday this week at National Girls Education Day which was really inspiring. And I want to say to all the girls in South Sudan, like I said to them, keep up with the hard work in your studies. It's really important for you and for your families and good luck with everything this year. Colby and Daniel, thank you so much for your time. And I'm Colby Bentley, he's the British Embassy Development Director, Mr Daniel Gessaka. His girls' education South Sudan team leader. Well thank you so much for coming to Regimere and sharing this information on the girls' education South Sudan program.