Orphans share a meal at Stone International Church in Juba where they shelter at night. Majority of them roam the streets during the day and return to the church compound in the evening| Credit | Priscah Akol/Eye Radio

At least 2.8 million children in South Sudan are out of school and loitering on streets, said education official.

According to George Ali, Director of Partners Coordination at the Ministry of General Education, the statistic is the biggest concern for the ministry and the government.

“Our concern is that there are a lot of children now on the streets; over 2.8 million children are on the streets; they are not going to schools, so it is a concern for us as the government to see that children are in schools,” Ali said during Thursday’s Eye Radio Under the Tree talk-show.

The government data reflects that of the UN’s children agency – UNICEF, which indicates that nearly 3 million children – over 70 percent have dropped out of school, putting their futures and the future of the country at risk.

Most of the out-of-school children are living in pastoral communities, moving with their cattle, and are not able to attend regular classes, UNICEF said.

Out of the 2.8 million, girls make up the largest percentage according to the UN agency.