On Tuesday, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) officially handed over a fully renovated Chinese Friendship Secondary School to the Central Equatoria State government in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
Originally constructed in 2011 with Chinese government support following South Sudan’s independence, the school is located in the Hai Seminary suburb of Juba. It currently serves 600 students, many of whom have gone on to pursue higher education across the country.
Cirisio Zakaria Lado, the Minister of General Education and Instruction for Central Equatoria State, expressed deep appreciation to CNPC and the Chinese government for their continued support in strengthening South Sudan’s education sector.
Nelson Wani, the school’s headteacher, highlighted the school’s symbolic role in the enduring friendship between the two nations.
Lu Jiangbo, president of CNPC (Nile), shared that over the past three months, renovations included classroom upgrades, new fencing, fresh paint, and the delivery of over 200 custom desks and chairs. CNPC also provided stationery, uniforms, and sports equipment for students and teachers.
Chinese Ambassador Ma Qiang emphasized that educational cooperation is a key pillar of the China–South Sudan partnership. He noted past initiatives, including the delivery of millions of textbooks, teacher training programs in China, and scholarship opportunities for South Sudanese students.
