UNESCO has handed over 194 boxes containing approximately 2,500 academic books to the Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology in Bor, Jonglei State, located in the Sudd Wetlands region of South Sudan. The university, which hosts around 3,500 students across ten faculties, attracts learners from across the country as well as from neighboring Sudan, where conflict has displaced students and lecturers. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Abraham Matoc Dhal highlighted the importance of the donation, noting that access to books is crucial for higher education and STEM learning, which are vital for the country’s future.
The handover is part of a broader initiative by UNESCO and its partners, which has distributed over 42,000 books to higher education institutions across South Sudan, including the University of Juba, Starford University, Rumbek University of Science and Technology, the University of Bahr El Ghazal, and Juba Teaching Hospital. The materials cover fields such as health sciences, law, and general academic studies and are supported by organizations including Books for Africa, the Bassiouni Group, the North American Centenary Committee, the Rotary network, and the United States Department of Defense Humanitarian Program.
In addition to printed books, the university benefits from UNESCO’s digital library initiative through the RACHEL platform, which provides offline educational content to at least fifteen public institutions, including universities, teacher training institutes, and TVET centers. This initiative helps bridge gaps in connectivity and expands access to learning resources. UNESCO Representative to South Sudan, Yayoi Segi-Vltchek, emphasized that the initiative addresses a critical shortage of up-to-date learning materials, strengthening teaching, research, and the training of skilled professionals needed for national development and sustainable peace.
Students and university officials welcomed the support, with Student Union President Malek Majok Garang expressing appreciation for UNESCO’s partnership, noting that the books would make a significant difference in their studies. Deborah Awut, Secretary-General of South Sudan’s National Commission for UNESCO, highlighted the challenges students face, including conflict, displacement, and economic pressures, and stressed that such partnerships provide essential support.
The university is also integrating education with local development, with projects near the Sudd Wetlands exploring rice cultivation to enhance food security. UNESCO’s visit concluded with a meeting with Jonglei State’s Minister of General Education and Instruction, Samuel Ador Thon, who outlined the ongoing impacts of conflict on learners and acknowledged UNESCO’s additional support, including solar power, ICT equipment, furniture, and internet connectivity provided to two County Education Departments through the Education Cannot Wait Multi-Year Resilience Program (MYRP).
