Hunger and Insecurity Force Over 700 Students to Drop Out in Tambura

(Tambura) – More than 700 schoolchildren in Tambura County, Western Equatoria State, have dropped out of school during the first term of the current academic year due to hunger, insecurity, and a lack of basic learning materials, according to local education officials.

Mathew Kassiano, the County Education Director, confirmed that a total of 759 students left school, including 462 girls. He said the number highlights the growing crisis affecting education in the area, particularly among children from internally displaced families.

“Our children are learning under trees without chalkboards, books, clean water, or proper classrooms,” Kassiano said. “Many of them come from displaced communities living in camps, where trauma has become a daily experience—even for the teachers.”

The high dropout rate is seen as part of a broader trend driven by instability and economic hardship in the region.

Kassiano noted that the combination of insecurity and poverty has made it increasingly difficult for families to keep their children in school. Most of the affected learners have been forced to stay home due to hunger or have joined their families in search of food and safety.

He called on both the government and humanitarian partners to intervene urgently by supporting school feeding programmes, building infrastructure, and offering psychosocial support to learners and teachers. Kassiano also urged peace and stability as fundamental requirements for educational continuity in the region.

“We are calling for peace and security to allow children to attend school safely,” he said. “We also need school meals to retain them, boreholes to provide clean water, and urgent support for children studying in internally displaced persons (IDP) centres or under trees.”

Tambura County has been affected by periodic conflict and displacement in recent years, which has worsened humanitarian conditions for families and disrupted access to education. As of June 2025, many schools still lack proper classrooms, and some function without essential supplies such as chalkboards, textbooks, or even drinking water.

Humanitarian agencies have provided some limited support in the past, but local officials say more is needed to prevent the collapse of education in the county.

With ongoing food insecurity and rising inflation (the price of a basic school lunch can exceed $2.50), many families are unable to afford to keep their children in class.