On International Literacy Day, South Sudanese Bishop Challenges Youth to Go for Knowledge

Advocating for the children to receive quality education, the Bishop says, “Let the teachers be held high; the teachers are the parents and those who take upon themselves the profession of passing their own knowledge.”

In his September 8 message, the Prelate appeals to each citizen to put education first for not only their own children but also for all the South Sudanese school going young people.

“Let each one of us in this country have priorities and a program for education for not only one’s children because we all know that other people benefit from the fruits of other people’s labour,” he says and adds, “People who have been educated like the President of South Sudan was taken care of by other people but we have now benefited from him.”

The South Sudanese Prelate emphasizes the importance of sharing educational services saying, “All the teachers, the medical doctors, the engineers, the pilots, drivers, the business people, all these people have been taught and supported with school fees by some other individuals but we are now benefiting from their services.”

Irritated by unnecessary use of honorary titles by students at colleges and universities, the 56-year-old Church leader asks the youth to be patient until graduated by the university.

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“I warn some of our young people on the use of titles. I have seen something not right. Many young people assign themselves titles that they do not deserve, titles they did not work for,” Bishop Hiiboro says in an audio intended for the public consumption on the Day of Literacy.

He explains, “You call yourself a doctor. To be a doctor of philosophy, you have to do the real study, real research, exploring of ideas, making contribution into the system and into the scope of knowledge; you don’t go about calling yourself doctor without going through a proper process.”

“The doctor actually is the fruit of the work that you had acquired and the doctorate is felt in your attitude, in your language and the way you approach issues,” he says in his audio message and cautions, “Don’t call yourself a doctor when you are not pronounced by the legitimate institution by the authority that has been invested in that institution to make you a doctor of philosophy.”

Cautioning the youth undergoing studies in various disciplines, the Bishop says, “If you are admiring to be an engineer, admiring to be a doctor, don’t take the title you didn’t qualify for and mess up information in the society.”

Among the things spiritual leaders do besides helping the people spiritually is giving opportunities for knowledge building, he says.

“As a Bishop, I see education as key; literacy is the key to the transformation of the country Republic of South Sudan,” he says and adds, “It is the key to the transformation of individuals, it is the key to peace.”

Bishop Hiiboro continues in his audio message, “Let us all mobilize to solve our community issues, community problems through the means of education, giving health education, giving quality education, providing access to the element of learning through every way from home to the street, to the market, to the Church and everywhere.”

“If at all we are worried about the way things are going in the country, if we are worried about the poverty, if we are worried about the conflict, the answer is let us do away with illiteracy; provide opportunities for learning for our young people, for ourselves and for all,” the South Sudanese Prelate concludes.