Schools to reopen in South Sudan after two weeks of extreme heat

Africa
By VOA | Mar 27, 2024
People stand by their houses in Juba, South Sudan, on Feb. 5, 2023, during a heatwave. [AP Photo]

South Sudan's government on Tuesday said schools will reopen next week following a two-week closure due to extreme heat across the country.

The health and education ministries said temperatures were expected to steadily drop with the rainy season set to begin in the coming days.

South Sudan in recent years has experienced adverse effects of climate change, with extreme heat, flooding and drought reported during different seasons.

During the heatwave last week, the country registered temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).

Teachers have been urged to minimize playground activities to early morning or indoors, ventilate classrooms, provide water during school time and monitor children for signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng singled out Northern Bahr El-Ghazel, Warrap, Unity and Upper Nile states as the most-affected areas.

Higher learning institutions have remained open.

Some schools in rural areas also have continued despite a warning from the education ministry.

Share this story
Europe court says Semenya's gender eligibility trial wasn't fair
Semenya, 34, is classed as having "differences in sexual development" but has always been legally identified as female.
Arsenal sign midfielder Norgaard from Brentford
Norgaard scored 13 times in 196 appearances for the Bees and was crucial to establishing Brentford as a Premier League club over the past four seasons.
Harambee Stars coach McCarthy defends CHAN squad selection
McCarthy stood by his team, defending the omission of some high-profile names from the FKF Premier League.
Harambee Stars climb to 109th in latest FIFA rankings
Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, has made steady progress in the latest FIFA world rankings, rising two places to position 109 globally.
School Games: St Mary's Yala, Nyakach Girls rule football as Nyanza games kick off
St Mary’s School Yala kicked off the Nyanza Region Secondary Term two games on the front foot after seeing off Agai High School 2-0 in Group B
.
RECOMMENDED NEWS