South Sudanese children are calling on the authorities to improve the quality of learning in the country, amid worrying reports that there are more than two million children out of school.
In an extraordinary child-led parliamentary session organised by charity Save the Children, the young people demanded that their right to access decent education was respected.
The session held in the capital, Juba, under the theme “My Voice My Right”, was aimed at fostering dialogue and getting decision-makers to hear children’s voices.
Representatives of children from the country’s 10 states took part in the face-to-face session with other children who joined in remotely.
The session was meant to provide a platform for children to express themselves on issues influencing educational performance.
According to the young participants, armed conflict, poverty and sexual exploitation are among the issues hindering children’s education in South Sudan.
Some 2.8 million children are not attending school which puts their futures and the future of the country at risk.