Juba (TDI): South Sudan has launched a major nationwide effort to improve primary education through the distribution of more than 1.1 million textbooks provided with support from China and the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The initiative, launched in the capital Juba, will see science, mathematics, and English textbooks delivered to primary schools across Lakes, Western Bahr El Ghazal, Unity State, and the Abyei Administrative Area.
Minister for General Education and Instruction, Kuyok Abol Kuyok, described the arrival of the materials as a milestone in implementing a new national curriculum. He emphasized that the project goes beyond simple distribution, enabling curriculum revision, teacher training, and quality assurance.
“We are on a very ambitious road of implementing a new education system,” Kuyok said during the launch ceremony. “This project has given us the opportunity to revise, train, and review the textbooks to meet our standards.
Primary school textbooks provided by the Phase II of China-aided Technical Cooperation Project of Education are distributed throughout South Sudan, supporting high quality education and delivering love and hope for a brighter future. pic.twitter.com/AJg2gMuSHq
— China Emb in South Sudan南苏丹纪行 (@ChinaEmb_Juba) March 23, 2026
The textbooks, printed by the Shanghai Educational Publishing House under Phase II of the China-aided Technical Cooperation Project of Education in South Sudan, have been reviewed by local educators to ensure relevance to the national curriculum.
Earlier consignments were already delivered to regions including Jonglei, Central Equatoria, and the Ruweng and Pibor administrative areas.
Transport and logistics are being supported by UNICEF through the Global Partnership for Education, highlighting the role of international collaboration in addressing educational challenges in the country. UNICEF Representative Noala Skinner stressed the importance of ensuring secure and uninterrupted delivery.
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“These textbooks need to get into the hands of children,” Skinner said. “Safe and unhindered access across all regions is essential to ensure schools can function and learners can benefit.”
Chinese Ambassador Ma Qiang called the initiative a landmark in bilateral cooperation, noting its long-term impact on students and educators alike.
He highlighted that previous phases of the program have already delivered millions of textbooks, trained over 920 teachers in China, and benefited nearly 150,000 students.
As South Sudan continues to rebuild its education sector, the large-scale textbook distribution represents a critical step toward improving literacy, strengthening teaching capacity, and expanding access to quality learning materials for young learners across the country.
