JUBA, South Sudan — A new program is equipping teachers in South Sudan with skills in sign language, braille and inclusive education strategies to ensure children with disabilities are not left behind.
The initiative, called Signs of Change, is funded by Education Cannot Wait and implemented by Light for the World in partnership with Save the Children and other organizations. Over the next two years, 1,400 aspiring educators will receive training at three national teacher training institutes.
“This crucial training will help address an urgent need for qualified teachers in inclusive education to accommodate and support children with disabilities,” said Mohammed, a program representative.
Student teacher Beatrice, 24, is among those learning sign language at the Rombur National Teachers Training Institute in Juba. “At the beginning, it was a bit difficult, but now the sessions are getting interesting and we are learning it with much love,” she said.
The program also provides assistive devices and builds accessible learning spaces. In Magwi County, facilitators recently secured a new mobility tricycle for Moses, an 18-year-old student who had missed classes after his previous tricycle broke.
South Sudan faces one of the world’s most severe education crises, with more than 2.8 million children out of school. Children with disabilities encounter even greater barriers, often excluded from classrooms due to lack of trained teachers and resources.
Since 2020, Education Cannot Wait has invested $73.8 million in South Sudan, including $40 million announced in 2023, reaching 328,000 crisis-affected children across 14 counties.
Beatrice hopes the training will help change attitudes in her community. “My message to parents is that they should not look down on their children with disabilities — they are just like everyone else,” she said.
For more information, visit educationcannotwait.org.