The women in Bussere Payam in Western Bahr el Ghazal State’s Wau County have raised an urgent concern about the lack of a single secondary school in their area and said they face numerous challenges related to the lack of education infrastructure and limited medical supplies.
Speaking during a ceremony to hand over the Bussere Police Station to the state government on Tuesday, women in the area appealed to the governor to address their concerns expeditiously because their children have to go to Wau Town for school.
Iksam Saleh Rehan, a women representative in Bussere, emphasized that many children are forced to drop out of school early due to the lack of a secondary school in the area.
“Mr. Governor, we need our children to study; we have children here, and they just study until primary eight,” she said. “They cannot reach secondary school because conditions in Wau town are very tough, and no one compromises with another there. We need you to open a secondary school here.’
“We have structures, but they need renovation,” Saleh added.
She also highlighted the deteriorating condition of the road linking Bussere to Wau Town and neighboring areas, and urged the state government to fix it.
Reacting to the concerns, Governor Sharif Daniel Sharif said the state government plans to rehabilitate Bussere Secondary School next year.
“The woman representative spoke about the lack of a secondary school in Bussere. I want to tell you that this year, students from Bussere sat their examination within Wau Town, but next year, they will set their examination here in Bussere,” he stated. “For the issue of the road, we have seen its condition; there are some areas that need rehabilitation. I came here with the minister of roads and bridges, and we will talk about this. When I come back next time, I hope the road will have been maintained, and there will be a bridge.”
Governor Sharif said the government is dedicated to listening to the concerns of citizens so as to meet their needs and to deliver quality services to enhance their livelihoods.
Bussere’s challenges reflect broader issues in Wau County, where gaps in health, infrastructure, and education, especially the scarcity of secondary schools, continue to hinder children’s access to quality education and community development.
Wau County is located just over 10 miles southwest of Wau Town.