Education Minister Awut Deng Acuil. | Photo: Catholic Radio Network

Over 400,000 schoolgirls will receive cash transfers across the country starting on Monday, the Ministry of General Education and Instruction announced, while warning teachers against swindling the fund.

Girls’s Education South Sudan cash transfers are direct payments given to girls who are regularly attending school in different classes mainly in the primary.

It aims to address the high rate of dropouts among girls particularly those transitioning from Primary to Secondary school.

The program is also intended to help improve girls’ access to quality education and to boost social inclusion.

All girls from Primary 5 to senior 4 are eligible for the program.

However, this year, girls enrolled in the GESS’s accelerated learning program, in levels 3 and 4 will also be eligible to receive cash transfer.

Awut Deng Acuil, the minister of general education and instruction, announced the commencement of the cash transfer in Juba this morning.

“The Ministry of General Education and Instruction is pleased to announce the Girls’s Education South Sudan GESS cash transfer to schoolgirls across South Sudan will commence on Monday, November 6^th, 2023,” Awut said.

She further said the 2023 cash transfer target girls who are currently enrolled in, and regularly attending classes “from primary Five to Senior Four, as well as girls enrolled in the GESS accelerated learning program, ALP, in levels Three and Four.”

Minister Awut added that with support from governments of UK and Canada, USAID, Swedish International Development Cooperation agency, and Norwegian government, approximately 425,000 schoolgirls will benefit from the cash transfer across the country.

According to the program, schoolgirls in Primary Eight, and Senior Four will receive 32,000 pounds each, while girls in primary 5, 6, 7, and senior 1, 2, and 3 will receive 25,600 pounds each.

The ministry has warned teachers, officials, police, or any other individuals against withholding or misusing funds intended for the girls.