Magwi County Sees Drop in Girls’ Enrollment After Heatwave School Closure
By Otto Abut | CRN | Monday, April 25, 2025
Heatwave School Break Leads to Education Crisis for Girls
The recent three-week school closure due to extreme heatwaves in South Sudan has resulted in a significant decline in girls’ enrollment across Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria. Education officials report alarming increases in early marriages and teenage pregnancies during the forced break, particularly affecting adolescent girls in upper primary and secondary schools.
Climate Crisis Disrupts Education
In March 2025, schools nationwide closed temporarily as temperatures soared between 41°C and 45°C. This climate-induced disruption has created a dual crisis – interrupting academic progress while exacerbating gender disparities in education access.
Musa Omar Muhamed Kiduri, Deputy Director of Education in Magwi County, confirmed: “Many girls aged between 17 and 19 have either become pregnant or dropped out due to early marriages.” The education department is now working with local school committees to develop reintegration strategies for affected students.
Personal Stories Highlight Systemic Challenges
The case of 27-year-old Amito Helen illustrates the recurring challenges facing female students. After returning to Greenland Secondary School following a COVID-19 pandemic dropout, she now faces another interruption: “It’s very unfortunate that I’m dropping out for the second time due to pregnancy… I feel too shy to return.”
Education Officials Propose Solutions
Despite the setbacks, Magwi County Director of Education Achiro Grace maintains the 2025 academic calendar while proposing remedial measures:
- Extended school hours (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
- Weekend classes for candidates
- Evening study sessions
“Primary Eight and Senior Four students are the most affected and require immediate attention,” Grace emphasized, urging collaboration between teachers and education officials.
Climate Change Forces Calendar Review
With heatwaves becoming more frequent – including reports of 12 students collapsing daily in Juba at the crisis peak – the Ministry of General Education is considering fundamental changes:
- Potential shift of academic year start from February to April
- Climate-adaptive education policies
- Enhanced student health protections
Environment Minister Josephine Napwon Cosmos continues to advise precautionary measures as extreme weather patterns persist across South Sudan.
This story was produced with support from Journalists for Human Rights under the ‘Tackling Mis/Disinformation Project,’ funded by the Peace and Stabilization Program of the Government of Canada.
Original reporting by Catholic Radio Network