Girls in a classroom of the Caritas-supported St. Daniel Comboni School in Agok, South Sudan. [Photo: Caritas International]

About 1,000 pupils to sit CPE exams in restive Abyei region

Abyei Administrative Area’s education ministry says at least 1,000 pupils are expected to sit the 2022 Certificate of Primary Education (PLE) examinations next week.

Abyei Administrative Area’s education ministry says at least 1,000 pupils are expected to sit the 2022 Certificate of Primary Education (PLE) examinations next week.

John Ajang Kiir, director general of Abyei’s education ministry told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that there are four examination centers across the region. 

“The preparation is going on well in collaboration with the national ministry of general education and instruction and Abyei Administrative Area, we have prepared four centers; one is the government center, Comboni Primary School center, Abyei Boys Center, and Abyei Girls. There are 1006 candidates this year, 426 candidates are female and 580 are male” he said.

Ajang also noted that more than 200 senior four candidates will sit this year’s secondary exams. However, he revealed that one student was recently killed in violence in Rumamer.

He called on the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to provide security for the candidates as they sit their national examinations. 

“We urge UNISFA forces to provide security within the examination centers because they (UNISFA) are mandated to provide the security within Abyei Box and we have logistical challenges because the candidates for various schools in Rumamer County in both secondary and primary schools have the challenges of food and accommodation,” he said.

Ajang, however, appreciated the Abyei administration and the WFP for providing candidates with accommodation and food.