The education system in Southern Sudan is very weak and lack adequate structures, equipments, supplies and trained teachers. This contributes to high illiteracy rates in the country. In 2003, the IAS education sector focused on consolidating the delivery of an Integrated Sustainable Education Programme (ISEP) where the long-term goal is to;

- Reduce poverty.
- Improve the quality and relevance of education.
- Build capacities of staff, managers, community leaders and parents.
- Build positive values and raise the standard of living.
- Increase access, equity and retention in IAS supported schools.
- Increase community ownership and sustainability in the schools.

1) Nursery school education

The education programme gave support to 17 schools in Yei, Maridi and Mundri counties in Equatoria region. Achievements in the programme:
- PTA workshop for indoor and outdoor material production.
- In-service teacher training level II course.
- Tree planting exercises in selected schools.
- Production of indoor and outdoor material for nursery schools.
- Production of school uniforms.
- Development of Thematic Lesson Plan materials.
- Impact evaluation and result analysis on 6 selected schools.

2) Primary school education

The education programme gave support to 30 schools in Bahr el Ghazal and to 47 schools in Equatoria region. Achievements in the programme:
- PTA workshop for indoor and outdoor material production.
- Sports workshop for primary school teachers.
- Facilitation of primary level examinations.
- Tree planting exercise in selected schools.
- Distribution of sports equipment to 47 schools in Equatoria.
- Renovation of 2 primary schools in Nuba Mountains.
- Survey of Special Needs Education in 16 schools in Equatoria.
- Impact evaluation in 16 selected schools in Equatoria.

3) Secondary school education

IAS supports 4 schools in Kajo-Keji, Yei, Gbutala and Mundri in Equatoria region and the only existing secondary school in Aweil West, Nyamlel Secondary School. Achievements in the programme:
- Renovation of Kajo-Keji and Yei Day secondary schools.
- Teachers setters workshops in the supported schools in Equatoria.
- Tree planting exercise in selected schools.
- Provision of emergency supplies to 5 schools.
- Facilitation of Senior 3 examinations.
- Impact evaluation in 3 secondary schools.
- Survey of Special Needs Education in 1 secondary school.
- Registration of 37 students for the Uganda National Board Exams.

4) Girl-child education

The schools should be a safe place where girls can feel respected. However, the school environment is most often physically and intellectually filled with teasing, rowdiness, violence and sexual harassment of girls that causes many of them to drop out of school. In order to avoid this, the communities and the school leaders and administrators need to be educated on better leadership styles. Achievements in the programme:
- Sensitisation workshops for community leaders and teachers.
- Workshop for County Education Officials from Aweil West/North.
- Improved teacher management styles and approaches towards girls.
- Inform teachers and leaders about girls’ equal rights to attend school.
- Production of school uniforms for supported schools.
- Boys and girls workshops in 11 selected schools.
- Monitoring of girls drop out in schools.

5) Teacher Training Programme

The Teacher Training Programme (TTP) is undertaking a long-term goal by Training of Teachers (TOT) in annualy batches of 60 teachers from the year 2003 to 2009. An estimated 240 teachers will be trained up to phase III by the end of 2009. The education programme in Aweil West county has established a Training Center in Marial Bai in Bahr el Ghazal region. It will be used for teacher trainings, workshops and conferences. Achievements in the programme:
- TTP has held phase III for 60 teachers, 51 completed successfully.
- The 51 teachers have been deployed to their respective schools.
- TTP has improved the performance of schools.
- Support to teacher students in Maridi Training Teachers College.
- 71 teacher students have graduated (64 were male and 7 females).

- IAS supported 99 schools in Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal regions.
- IAS supported more than 19,000 pupils.
- 67% of the pupils where boys and 33% where girls.
- 10% of the pupils dropped out before reaching grade 5.

Enrollment in IAS supported schools

- Nursery schools: 1,121 pupils out of 4,678 in Equatoria region.
- Primary schools: 16,478 pupils out of 47,797 in Equatoria and BEG.
- Secondary schools: 1,660 pupils out of 3,165 in Equatoria and BEG.

Gender levels

- More girls than boys attended Nursery schools.
- Primary school attendancy rate, 67% boys and 33% girls.
- Secondary school attendency rate, 85% boys and 15% girls.

Progress and innovations

- The promotion of girl child education and accelerated learning.
- The incorporation of ISEP.