GE Undersecretary Rebecca Owaci and Juba Commercial female students pose for a photo - June 29 2013 - Juba

The government says it plans to establish 3 national girls’ boarding schools in its efforts to improve girls’ education in the country.

The boarding schools are expected to increase girls’ enrolment and retention.

The Minister for Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Awut Deng Acuil, told Eye Radio’s Dawn Program that the schools will also help girls excel in their studies.

“Culturally, these are the things we need to look at because we have negative cultures and positive cultures,” said Madam Awut.

“And I think if we pick from positive cultures, South Sudan will move forwards simply because citizen in this country deserve rights which are articulated in the constitution, saying that all the children have the rights to education and education in South Sudan is compulsory and free.”

She said the Ministry has developed a policy to improve the education sector in the country.

She also said that the Ministry of Gender is working in coordination with the Ministry of Education to improve enrolment of children to schools.