USAID and UNICEF have handed over five new primary schools to authorities in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State. 

The schools were dedicated at the new Ayii Central Primary School during a ceremony attended by students, teachers, parents, U.S. and UN representatives, and local, state and national officials.

“Children in South Sudan have faced many threats to their physical and emotional well-being, particularly during the most recent conflict,” said USAID South Sudan Acting Mission Director Zema Semunegus in a statement.

“It is critical that schools be a place where children in South Sudan are protected from potential harm, providing them physical and emotional safety so that they can learn and thrive.  That is one of the main goals of our education efforts in South Sudan.”

The five schools were built as part of USAID’s 30-million-dollar-contribution to the Global Partnership for Education.

They will serve more than 3,000 students, including more than 1,500 girls.

They are the first of 25 primary schools to be built in Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Lakes States under the partnership.

Ten of the 25 schools will be financed by USAID.