By Jacob Onuha Nelson
Some youths have called on the government to address their challenges in the country in honor of the International Youth Day.
In an interview with this outlet on Thursday, Jirfasio Avendo Jarvis, a public health student at the University of Juba, said there are challenges that youth face, such as unemployment, that need immediate attention.
“Youth don’t have some jobs to do; sometimes, unemployment forces them to commit crimes like stealing and robbery,” Avendo said.
Avendo reiterated that youth also lack access to education, especially self-sponsored students who can’t afford further education.
“Some youths don’t have access to education. You know, education nowadays is very expensive, and some of the youths don’t have access to get enough education for them to be educated. And if you see, currently now, if you don’t have support, for you to be supported and go ahead for higher education, you may end up being in the area without even going to school,” Avendo noted the situation.
According to Joan Simon, the student of a Maryland secondary school stressed that illiteracy is another challenge.
“And illiteracy is the major problem that is facing us and the major problem that is creating more problems, because illiteracy itself is a problem. So, if you don’t educate the youth, the youth become dumb, and they become blind, and they don’t see the world very well,” Joan stated.
Joan appealed to the government to build more government schools to cater for high payments at the schools.
My message is, the government has to create more government schools, because nowadays, private schools are the ones overruling. They put a high payment on the schools, so it becomes hard,” Joan narrated.
“So, the government, at least, has to overcome and build more schools, at least, for them to put a low payment for students, or for pupils, so that many youths can get enrolled in the schools,” Joan added.
However, South Sudan youths have been facing challenges often exacerbated by ongoing conflict and climate change in both rural and urban areas.