Ambassador David Ashley made the remarks yesterday during the closing ceremony of the Girls’ Education South Sudan (GESS) program in Juba| By Darlington Moses

The United Kingdom’s Ambassador to South Sudan, David Ashley, has warned that the government is failing in its legal and moral obligations to provide universal education, citing a wide gap between budget commitments and actual spending.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Girls’ Education South Sudan (GESS) program yesterday, Ambassador Ashley highlighted the continuing lack of salaries for teachers and the absence of capitation grants for primary schools.

“The sad truth is that with teachers in government schools not receiving salaries for months on end and with primary schools not receiving capitation grants, South Sudan is currently failing in its legal commitment and its moral obligation to provide free universal education to its children,” he said.

“This is a question of resources, of course, but it’s also a question of priorities. As is evident in the official figures… less than 2% was spent on education last year. And it is, in the words of the chair of the National Education Coalition, frankly unacceptable that the proportion of the budget dedicated to general education last year was the lowest it’s been since independence. That must change.”

Ambassador Ashley stressed that the crisis is not simply due to limited funding. He pointed out that regional and national frameworks, such as the Education Act, stipulate that at least 10 percent of the national budget should be allocated to general education, yet actual spending remains far below that target.

“This is a question of priorities,” he said. “South Sudan has the frameworks in place, but the implementation and prioritization are lacking. The upcoming 2026/2027 budget presents a definitive opportunity for change.”

The UK envoy called on President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the Minister of Finance, and all senior government officials to ensure that the next budget addresses the persistent gaps and provides adequate funding for teachers, schools, and educational programs nationwide.

“We urge the leadership to use this moment to restore confidence in South Sudan’s commitment to free and universal education,” Ambassador Ashley added.

The remarks come amid broader concerns over the underfunding of education in South Sudan, which continues to affect access, quality, and equity in learning for millions of children across the country.