JUBA, South Sudan — In response to an extreme heat wave affecting the city, South Sudan announced the closure of all schools for a two-week period starting Thursday. The decision follows reports of numerous students collapsing due to the rising temperatures.
This marks the second occasion this year that educational institutions in the nation have shut down during a heat wave occurring in February and March. According to Deputy Education Minister Martin Tako Moi, “approximately 12 students have been fainting daily in Juba.”
Many of South Sudan’s schools consist of makeshift buildings constructed from iron sheets, and they lack the electricity necessary to operate cooling systems, exacerbating the heat-related health risks. Environment Minister Josephine Napwon Cosmos urged citizens to remain indoors and hydrate, warning that temperatures could soar to around 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit). She also suggested that government personnel be organized into shifts to mitigate the risk of heat strokes.
Educators are advocating for a revision of the academic calendar, proposing that schools close in February and reopen in April when temperatures typically become more bearable. Abraham Kuol Nyuon, the dean of the Graduate College at the University of Juba, emphasized the need for calendar adjustments that reflect local climate conditions across the country’s ten states.
A civil society organization named Integrity South Sudan criticized the government’s approach, stating that the decision to close schools during scorching weather conditions illustrates a troubling lack of strategic planning and failure to prioritize education for the nation’s youth.
The health system in South Sudan has long been strained due to ongoing political turmoil. Between 2013 and 2018, nearly 400,000 individuals lost their lives amidst conflict before a peace deal was struck between President Salva Kiir and his opponent-turned-deputy, Riek Machar.
Elections intended to take place last year have seen a two-year delay, largely attributed to insufficient funding. The country is further grappling with an economic crisis stemming from disruptions in oil exports, following a significant pipeline rupture in the neighboring conflict-affected nation of Sudan. Although the pipeline has since been repaired, the economic impacts linger.
