By Hon Daniel Juol Nhomngek
Bahr Gel Primary School holds a legendary status as the very first primary school established in what is now Lakes State, South Sudan.
It was founded by the British colonial administration in 1945, the school was intentionally built at Bahr Gel because Cueibet was operating as an important administrative unit under Tonj at the time.
It served as the sole intellectual and educational hub for the entire Gok Dinka community and neighboring territories during the pre-independence era.
Why Bahr Gel Primary School is Historically Significant:
1) The Cradle of Leadership: Because it was the only school in the region for years, it educated the first generation of literate local administrators, clerks, and court translators who staffed the Cueibet subdistrict administration around 1956.
2) Liberation Veterans: The school is highly revered in South Sudanese history for producing prominent liberation war heroes and statesmen, most notably General Daniel Awet Akot (Daniel Awetdit), alongside numerous other veterans of the Anya-Nya I and SPLM/A struggles.
3) The Geographic Site: The school was positioned close to the seasonal floodplains of the Bahr Gel River, a location chosen so that students from pastoralist communities would have a central, accessible point to gather and learn.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and are intended to establish facts regarding the historical significance of Bahr Gel Primary School located in Chueibet County.
