The government of South Sudan has announced the introduction of Arabic and Islamic religious education into the country’s educational system.
The announcement was made at the launch of the new textbooks in Juba, where the vice president in charge of the Government Services Group, Hussain Abdulbaqi Akol, described the move as an important development towards a more inclusive education system.
In his speech, Abdul Baqi stressed that the inclusion of these subjects in the national curriculum will contribute significantly to enriching the academic experience of students, address historical gaps and promote cultural diversity and heritage enshrined in the constitution.
Education Minister Auut Deng Acuil said her ministry is developing a comprehensive curriculum that promotes society’s transformation towards greater cohesion and unity.
She added that textbooks for Arabic language and Islamic religious education were produced through a national initiative to complete the national curriculum.
“South Sudan is a diverse society, Islam and the Arabic language are a reality in our society, the SPLM recognized this and established the Islamic Council during the liberation struggle to meet the needs of Muslims in the liberated areas,” she said.
Save the Children’s acting country director in South Sudan, Ahmed Ibrahim, said: “The new materials will play a vital role in providing learners with the best possible learning opportunities.”
In South Sudan’s Interim Constitution, English is the official language of the country and the language of instruction according to the Education Act, and Arabic is the second official language of instruction.
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