Location: Southern Sudan

Date: December 2007

NGO partners: EDC

The Situation

Ravaged by prolonged civil wars, Sudan has the largest internally displaced population in the world, mostly from southern Sudan. The war has aggravated the isolation of the southern part of the country that has long been one of the most backward and underdeveloped areas in Africa. The area has a phenomenal toll in terms of disease, poverty, suffering, high mortality rates and unchecked ignorance.

Kuol Atem Bol, Director of Alternative Education systems, Southern Sudan, describes the situation: “The two decades of civil war in Sudan has claimed over 1.5 million lives and displaced an estimated four million people. The educational system in Southern Sudan has been adversely affected by the two decades of civil war, depicting one of the worst illiteracy rate indicators in the world.

About 2.5 million children, youth and adults missed their basic education which has pushed the illiteracy rate of South Sudan to 85 per cent, while the overall rate of Sudan is 57 per cent.

“In Sudan, education was frequently interrupted by wars. Accessibility to education, retention and quality education was difficult to achieve. The gross enrollment rate in Southern Sudan is hardly 22 per cent. Only 20 per cent of teachers have attained formal training. Female teachers comprise only 7 per cent of the total teacher population.”, Atem Bol said.

Learning Technologies Project - Southern Sudan

In May of 2007 Matt York introduced himself to the Education Development Center in Washington DC. After 20 years in the consumer electronics industry, Matt had a hunch that these products along with his knowledge and abilities could be of great service within the international development community. The hunch is that video and audio technology can be leveraged to accelerate education in emerging markets, especially the poorest of the poor (bottom billion). With all of his contacts Matt could raise funds and in kind contributions. After teaching millions of wealthy people in US how to entertain one another with video, it seemed that training teaching in developing countries would be achievable and appropriate.

Matt’s VITA was circulated around EDC and Tom Tilson responded from Nairobi. This kicked off a dialog about how audio and video technology could be applied in Southern Sudan. With hundreds of hours of audio content, SSIRI seemed like a perfect project to test portable media players (PMPs). The team behind OMPT began working with EDC and the Alternative Education System's Ministry of Education Science and Technology in Juba, Southern Sudan in the fall of 2007.

Our staff is working with the Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction (SSIRI) Project to develop and broadcast educational radio programs including primary school subjects to children in schools, English to youth and adults, and staff development programs for teachers.

However, there are many instances of classes or potential listening groups that would like to benefit from the radio lessons, but are unable to meet during the time of the broadcast. In addition, schools in certain parts of the country are not on the same schedule as the broadcasts or not within range of the radio signal. In any case, SSIRI is hoping to develop other technologies that can be used in place of radios.

In addition, SSIRI is initiating a new video production program at Teacher Training Institutes (TTIs) whereby staff will be trained in basic video production skills so that they can develop simple videos to support their academic program, especially in the area of pedagogy.

We are helping to identify low-cost technologies that can be implemented in schools or learning centers throughout Southern Sudan using technologies including portable media players, and boom box CD players/FM radios with the capability to read MP3 devices and flash drives. We are assessing options for recharging batteries including hand cranking generators and solar panels. We are also assisting the EDC offices in Washington and Nairobi in the procurement and solicitation of donations of these devices in sufficient quantities for initial activities in Southern Sudan; specifically Kauda, Nuba Mountains and Yambio, Western Equatoria. We will be orienting and training staff at the Maridi TTI on the use of video camcorders for the production of simple videos that can be used to strengthen the academic program, especially activities to support good pedagogy.

Click on the links below to learn more:

From The Peninsula Online (March 15, 2007)

Sample Audio File - Sudan Radio Service Clip

UN Extend Southern Sudan Peacekeeping


SUD Academy Video - A School for Sudanese Children in Nairobi