UNESCO has handed over 194 boxes of academic books, around 2500 in total, to the Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology.
The university is situated on the outskirts of the town of Bor, Jonglei State, in the region of the Sudd Wetlands – Africa’s largest wetlands, and on UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage sites. It hosts around 3,500 students across its ten faculties, draws learners from across the country as well as from neighboring Sudan, where conflict has displaced students and lecturers across the border.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Abraham Matoc Dhal welcomed the handover and underscored its importance: “Those who give books, give knowledge, and must be acknowledged. This is a great resource for our students,” he said. “Higher education serves this community and this country, and the power of STEM education is critical for our future.”
The books form part of a wider national distribution of materials, as UNESCO and partners have provided more than 42,000 books to institutions across South Sudan, focusing on fields such as health sciences, law, and general academic studies. These were distributed to other higher-level institutions such as the University of Juba, Starford University, Rumbek University of Science and Technology, the University of Bahr El Ghazal, and Juba Teaching Hospital.
The initiative has been supported by Books for Africa, the Bassiouni Group, the North American Centenary Committee, the Rotary network, and the United States Department of Defense Humanitarian Program.
Alongside the printed materials, the university has also benefited from UNESCO’s digital library initiative though the RACHEL platform, part of a broader push to expand access to learning. Already, at least fifteen public institutions, including universities, teacher training institutes, and TVET centers, are using the system. These digital libraries are helping transform access to knowledge and bridge gaps in connectivity by providing educational content without the need for continuous internet.
UNESCO Representative to South Sudan Yayoi Segi-Vltchek said the initiative addresses a major gap in the education system while also outlining the broader role universities play: “Across all levels of education in South Sudan, the lack of adequate and up to date learning materials remains a major barrier,” she said. “This intervention will strengthen teaching, enhance research, and support the training of skilled professionals needed for national development. Higher education is often overlooked, but it plays a critical role in fostering sustainable development and building peace.”
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/over-42000-books-delivered-south-sudans-universities-unesco-hands-over-more-learning-materials-bor?hub=701
