The Executive Director of UNICEF, Ann Veneman, revealed that the number of children in southern Sudan  schools has reached  from three hundred thousand to more than a million in the last year in 2004.

After visiting Darfur and south Sudan, Ms. Veneman said that UNICEF will support the government of south Sudan in improving the educational infrasturctures.

"One of the things I was very pleased and optimistic about is the number of children who are in schools," said Veneman.

She added, "I think just generally in south Sudan we have seen an increase in 2004 from  three hundred and forty three thousand  children in school to one  million point two  in 2006".

Veneman added that the number of children in schools in Darfur has risen  from three hundred and eighty two thousand children in 2004 up to five hundred and sixteen thousand in 2006.