South Sudan’s government announced on Tuesday (Mar. 26) that schools would resume operations starting April 2nd after a two-week closure due to severe heatwaves across the nation.
The Ministries of Health and Education stated that temperatures were anticipated to gradually decrease as the rainy season approaches in the upcoming days.
During the recent heatwave, temperatures soared as high as 45 degrees Celsius across the country.
Teachers have been advised to minimize outdoor activities during peak heat hours, ensure proper ventilation in classrooms, provide access to water throughout the school day, and monitor students for signs of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng specifically highlighted Northern Bahr El-Ghazel, Warrap, Unity, and Upper Nile states as the regions most severely impacted by the extreme heat.
Higher education institutions have remained operational during the closure period.
Despite warnings from authorities that any schools found open during the heatwave would risk losing their registration, some rural schools continued to operate.
South Sudan has faced the adverse impacts of the climate crisis in recent years, including extreme heat, drought, and unprecedented rainfall and flooding.
