The head of gender, child, and social welfare department in Abyei, Hon. Aluel Achuil Kiir has urged girls to prioritize education and disregard early marriage.
Hon. Aluel made these remarks during a thanksgiving ceremony organized by pupils at Mulmul primary school on Saturday 20th April.
The gender official was dismayed by the rampant impregnation of young girls/learners, noting that lack of follow-ups and the instructive roles from the families exacerbated the issue.
“Some mothers send their daughters to fetch water at night, revealing it is one of the factors contributing to early pregnancy,” she explained.
She said the role of a mother is to know the time when her daughter should return home.
On her part, Ms. Nyanluak Chol, an elderly woman said there is a difference between her generation and the current one.
“In our time, parents were very close to their children while today’s parents are busy with providing life’s needs. Now some mothers leave very early in the morning and come back late at night and don’t know what their daughters were doing during the day when they were away,” she compared.
She urged the community to continue monitoring and render advice to children daily to gain a good life.
A recent survey by the education department showed that 85 female learners got impregnated between 2023 and 2024.
A two-year conflict between Ngok and Twic County of Warrap State and long dispute over the region between Sudan and South Sudan are also to blame for the social fraction in behaviors.