Examining the multilayered, interconnected barriers to education in South Sudan

18 March, 12:00-13:00 GMT

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Organised by Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis (ERICC) Consortium, University College London (UCL)

INEE, IOE – UCL’s Institute of Education, and the Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis (ERICC) consortium invite you to a virtual Seminar as part of a Seminar series which aims to promote dialogue and synergy between emerging findings from ERICC’s programme and the work of scholars and practitioners in the field. The Seminar series will feature methodologies and emerging knowledge and offer space for inclusive cross-dialogue between academics, students, researchers and other experts in the field of education in conflict and protracted crises. 

In South Sudan, decades of conflict, political instability, economic fragility, and climate shocks have placed the education system under severe strain, resulting in persistent inequalities in access, quality, and continuity of learning. Within this context, education stakeholders at different levels experience and interpret barriers to education in distinct yet interconnected ways.

This seminar brings together two studies which explore the multilayered barriers to education in South Sudan through qualitative research with actors across national, subnational, and community levels. Adopting a political economy of education perspective, the studies examine how structural constraints, policy challenges, sociocultural norms, and aid dynamics interact to sustain persistent barriers to learning.

The discussion will critically examine how these intersecting factors shape education delivery and equity. It will also explore how diverse stakeholder perspectives can inform the design of more coherent, contextually grounded, and sustainable support to education systems in settings affected by protracted and overlapping crises.

The discussion will invite Seminar participants to share reflections on the following guiding questions: 

• What do the barriers to education in South Sudan reveal about the broader political, social, and economic structures that sustain inequality, and what are the implications for addressing them?
• Whose perspectives and priorities shape how barriers are understood and acted upon, and what does this mean for equity, local ownership, and decision-making in education policy and practice?
• How can education systems in South Sudan move towards sustainable solutions to address the root causes of exclusion, and what are the implications for peacebuilding and long-term social transformation?

CHAIR

Professor Tejendra Pherali, University College London, Institute of Education

DISCUSSANT

Dr. Ador Riak Nyiel, Assistant Professor of Education, Upper Nile University

Dr. Ador Riak Nyiel is the National Coordinator of the National Education Coalition (NEC) in South Sudan and an Assistant Professor of Education at Upper Nile University. He holds a PhD in Education (Education in Emergencies) from the University of Nairobi, supported by the African Union–Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Foundation Scholarship. With over 15 years of experience in education policy, teacher education, and education-in-emergencies, he has contributed to key national frameworks including the General Education Sector Plan, Inclusive Education Policy, and Teacher Education Policy. His work bridges academia and advocacy, strengthening education systems and advancing inclusive, equitable learning for all.

SPEAKERS

Elifrida Twalihi, Senior Education Manager, IRC South Sudan

Elifrida is a Senior Education Manager with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) South Sudan, leading education programming focused on teacher development, foundational learning, and inclusion in crisis-affected contexts. She is a co-author of the forthcoming ERICC study on barriers to education in South Sudan and brings over a decade of experience bridging research, policy, and practice in fragile settings.

Lokiri Moses, Research Manager, OTHERwise Research

Lokiri is an education and development research specialist with over a decade of experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research in South Sudan. He is the South Sudan Research Manager and focal point for the ERICC programme at OTHERwise Research. He holds a BSc in Education from Mbarara University of Science and Technology and is currently completing an MPH in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Makerere University.

Maartje Schots, Senior Assessment Officer, REACH South Sudan

Maartje is an analyst with REACH in South Sudan. As the lead for REACH’s Emergencies portfolio, she conducts assessments in under-reported and rapidly evolving crises across the country: wherever there is a risk of severe humanitarian outcomes for affected populations. Her work spans multiple sectors, and she has contributed to assessments that intersect with education needs and access in emergency settings. She brings over three years of research experience focused on South Sudan.