Plan International South Sudan, in partnership with the Eastern Equatoria State Ministry of General Education and Instruction, launched a four-year USD 1.5 million play matters project to transform how children learn through play in schools across Torit and Magwi counties.
The project, launched Thursday in Torit, will run from June 2026 to June 2030 and is expected to benefit approximately 26,000 learners. The initiative is being implemented under the theme “Sparking Lifelong Learning Through Play” and forms part of a larger national Play Matters programme targeting seven states across South Sudan.
Speaking during the launch, Kamruz Zaman, Managing Director of Plan International South Sudan, said Play Matters is designed to strengthen children’s knowledge, skills and learning outcomes by integrating play into education.
“This is basically a four-year project working in seven states of South Sudan. Play Matters will reach 160,000 learners with 420 schools in seven states,” he said. “We will try to bring some changes in how children can learn through play.”
He explained that Plan International will implement the programme in Eastern Equatoria and Central Equatoria.
Zaman said the project will also work with teachers and school-going children through training and other activities designed to improve teaching and learning.
Lokulang Lokudu Faustino, Director for Quality Assurance and Standards in the State Ministry of Education, said the project will help address some of the challenges facing the education sector.
“It is a privilege and a good thing that we are launching Play Matters that will be implemented in the state,” he stated. “I think this is going to cover some challenges that we are facing in the state.”
He urged stakeholders to ensure that project budgets, activities, and implementation plans are clearly documented to make monitoring and reporting easier.
“We need to coordinate so that we can strengthen this project,” Lokudu said. “As government and stakeholders, we need to be open because a project needs to be validated in the form of a budget and other activities.”
Meanwhile, Khadija Clement, Deputy Chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, urged parents and learners to take ownership of the project and actively participate in its implementation.
“We urged school-going children to own the project because you are the future leaders,” she said. “This programme of Play Matters was there in schools previously, but due to current changes it is not there. Now that it is renewed, it will help a lot.”
She stressed the importance of education to the country’s future, saying a strong education system is essential for national development.
Parents attending the launch also welcomed Plan International’s decision to expand the programme to Eastern Equatoria.
John Mayen Maker, one of the parents, described the project as an initiative for both children and communities.
“This project is for us all, both the community and our children,” he said. “I urge improved relations, and I promise to always be close with the implementing partners supporting schools and children.”
Other parents called for stronger cooperation between parents, teachers and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) to support children’s education both at school and at home.
The Play Matters project comes at a time when South Sudan’s education sector continues to face challenges, including limited resources, teacher-related constraints and inadequate learning environments.
By using play as a tool for learning, the programme seeks to make classrooms more engaging while helping children develop knowledge, social skills, creativity, confidence and problem-solving abilities.
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