ICT4E projects are needed in South Sudan for two major reasons: (1) the majority of the population is illiterate, and (2) 83% reside in rural areas.  Illiterate adults and rural populations can both be served via radio services.  Adults can listen to the radio while completing other tasks and people in rural areas often do not have access to education among primary school, as the distance to secondary schools is too large.  Some radio projects have already been conducted in South Sudan, but their success is unknown.

The current status of education in South Sudan among the 8.26 million people in South Sudan is particular grim, as seen in the national survey collected in 2009.

• 52 students per teacher
• 129 students per classroom
• 37% of the population above the age of six has ever attended school
• 27% of those 15 years and above are literate.
• The literacy rate for males is 40% compared to 16% for females
• 53% of the urban adult population is literate, compared to 22% of the rural adult population
• 40% of the population between 15-24 is literate. The literacy rate for males in this age group is 55% compared to 28% for females.

With support from UNESCO, UNDP, and UNICEF, a few preliminary ICT programs in the national education system of Sudan proper have been implemented.  However, many of the projects were cut short as a result of conflict, funding, and a lack of communication among associated parties.  Others focused primarily on built capital, such as bringing computers to as many schools as possible, while neglecting social capital, like training people to use the computers well.  Internet connections in schools, as well as Internet literacy training courses, were extremely limited in these programs.  A few of the projects, as documented in a 2007 InfoDev report, are listed below.  However, there has been a lack of monitoring and evaluation of the projects.  Subsequently, it is unclear whether and to what degree the projects were successful in South Sudan.

• Civic Education via Radio for Southern Sudan: In partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Education Development Center Sudan Radio Service has developed a new civic education radio series that will increase listeners’ knowledge of political developments and also promote increased discussion of political developments, tolerance of diverse viewpoints, and non-violent solutions to complex problems.
• Sudan Radio Service: As part of an effort to increase the participation of the southern Sudanese, the Sudan Radio Service provides access to balanced and useful information through radio-based education and entertainment programs presented by local presenters in several local languages.
• dot-EDU Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction (SSIRI) Program: This program designs, develops, and pilot-tests appropriate and cost-effective technologies such as interactive radio instruction in an effort to provide learning opportunities for children, adults, and teachers in southern Sudan.