(LAINYA COUNTY) -Leaders and residents of Lainya County in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan, are calling on authorities to rehabilitate and reopen Loka Secondary School, a once-prominent national institution that has remained closed since the 2016 conflict.
Established in the early 1950’s, Loka Secondary School has a long history of academic excellence and is credited with producing several influential figures, including the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior and other notable leaders. However, the national boarding school has been abandoned for years and is now reportedly inhabited by wild animals.
Concerned citizens including Lemeri John Wai-Wai, are urging former students the Pojulu community, and both state and national governments to take collective action to restore the institution.
“Former students should not remain associated with a former school. They must come together and support efforts to revitalize Loka Secondary School. However, the community alone cannot replace the role of the government,” Lemeri said.
He emphasized the need for collaboration between local leaders and government authorities, adding that reviving the school would restore its former status as a center of excellence.
“Loka Secondary School once produced national leaders, including the father of the nation, late Dr. John Garang de Mabior. Its current abandoned state is a sad reality,” he said.
Former student Emmanuel Khamis, who completed his studies at the school in 2015, expressed concern over its deteriorating condition.
“This school has contributed significantly to leadership in the country. Rehabilitating it would help address illiteracy and reduce high dropout rates in Lainya County,” he said, appealing to both state and national governments to act.
Lainya County Education Director Festo Laki Richard noted that a government assessment team visited the school two years ago but no action has followed. He said while most classrooms remain structurally intact, they require rehabilitation.
He also revealed that about 10 teachers based in Juba are still receiving salaries from the national government despite the school being non-operational.
Laki called on intellectuals and government authorities at all levels to intervene and address the urgent need for secondary education in the county.
Local observers, however, stress that lasting peace and stability in Lainya County and across Central Equatoria State will be critical to resettling communities and enabling students to return to school.
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