By James Innocent
The County Education Department of Yei River County, in partnership with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MOGEI) and the Girls’ Education South Sudan (GESS) programme, officially launched the 2025 Cash Transfer payments this week. The initiative aims to support schoolgirls and learners with disabilities across the county.
The launch took place on Thursday morning at Kinji Primary School and was attended by education officials, teachers, community leaders, and development partners. In total, 4,248 girls and learners with disabilities enrolled in both primary and secondary schools within Yei River County will benefit.
Speaking at the event, Emmanuel Sebit, a representative from Stone Foundation (one of the GESS implementing partners), advised beneficiaries to use the money responsibly to meet their educational needs.
“This money is meant for paying school fees and other learning materials,” Sebit stated. “Teachers should not take any portion of it from the girls because it is intended to support their education.”
He emphasized that the support aims to reduce school dropouts and promote equal access to education for all learners, especially girls.
Sambala Moses, one of the education officers, welcomed the inclusion of boys with disabilities in this year’s payments, noting the move promotes inclusivity. “This year, we are happy that boys with disabilities have also been considered. They are among the most vulnerable learners, and this support gives them hope,” he said.
With the festive season approaching, Martin Lumori Enok, the Education Supervisor for Yei Town Payam, cautioned girls to keep their money safe. “I encourage the beneficiaries to save and use this support wisely,” Enok advised.
Juan Margaret Lomora, Advisor to the Yei River County Education Department, strongly urged beneficiaries to spend the money only on educational needs.
“This money is for paying school fees, not for buying body creams or other luxuries. We encourage our girls to focus on their studies and avoid misuse of this opportunity,” Lomora emphasized.
She also called on financial institutions handling the payments to ensure transparency and accountability in managing the funds.
Simon Ludoru Ruben, Deputy County Education Director for Administration and Finance, highlighted that the GESS cash transfers have already contributed to declines in school dropouts in Yei. “We have observed that the rate of girls leaving school has reduced because of this programme,” he said, but also stressed an appeal: “However, we appeal to our partners to release the funds earlier in future to allow smooth school operations.”
Taban James Justice, an official from Cooperative Bank, provided details on the 2025 payments. The funds are targeting learners from Senior One to Senior Four, as well as Primary Eight candidates. Senior students are allocated 166,000 SSP and upper primary pupils will receive 129,000 SSP.
Representing the County Commissioner, local government official Towongo Alex commended the partners for their continued support. “We thank our partners for standing with the government in empowering our girls. We encourage the beneficiaries to use the money wisely and remain focused in school,” Alex said.
One of the recipients, student Maneno Grace, expressed relief, noting she had been “facing a lot of issues in school.” She added that the money “will facilitate her education needs.”
The GESS Cash Transfer programme is a flagship government initiative aimed at improving girls’ education by providing direct financial support to learners to cover essential school-related costs. Education officials in Yei hope the initiative will continue to empower girls, reduce gender disparities, and promote inclusive learning for all.