Western Equatoria State Governor Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa has called on educated leaders and professionals across the state to actively participate in teaching and mentoring students as part of efforts to strengthen the education sector.
He made the remarks while speaking at Nazareth Parish Church in Juba on Sunday and stressed that graduates and professionals should use their knowledge and experience to support learning in secondary schools, universities, and other institutions, instead of remaining inactive.
“We should not keep knowledge to ourselves while our young people need guidance,” he said.
The governor said he had earlier instructed key religious leaders, including Bishop Eduardo Hiboro Kussala of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio and Bishop Samuel Enosa Peni of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS), to join efforts in promoting teaching and mentorship initiatives across the state.
He emphasized that leaders should dedicate at least four days a week to teaching core subjects like English, Mathematics, and History to improve learning outcomes and equip young people with essential skills.
Governor Rimbasa also encouraged young people to pursue higher education, noting that universities in Western Equatoria State are currently open for the August intake, offering programs in agriculture, education, and health sciences.
Earlier, on 13 April 2026, he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to education while officiating the opening of ECSS St. Paul Secondary School in Yambio, where he again called on leaders and qualified professionals to support schools through teaching and mentorship.
For his part, Dr. Mande Daniel, a PhD holder in Peace Studies from Italy and lecturer at Catholic University’s St. John Campus in Yambio, described the governor’s call as an important initiative that can help ignite passion for teaching across schools and colleges in the state.
“I have fostered the culture of mentorship in academic institutions for many years, and this is a good call for service,” he said.
Meanwhile, Christopher Malish, a youth from Yambio County, welcomed the idea but raised concerns over time constraints, noting that many government officials may struggle to balance office duties and teaching responsibilities.
“This will give new knowledge if leaders show love for sharing knowledge, but it should be properly arranged,” he said.
Edmond Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), welcomed the governor’s proposal, describing it as a nationalistic call to prepare future generations for a better future.
He noted that the initiative is particularly important in South Sudan, where teachers are often not paid regularly, leading many qualified educators to leave the profession in search of better opportunities.
“As a result, the future generation continues to suffer from a decline in the quality of education,” Yakani said.
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