Primary and secondary school candidates on Tuesday took to the streets of Aweil town in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State to protest against a hike in examination fees by the ministry of general education and instruction.
The national ministry of general education in Juba earlier sent out a circular which said private secondary school candidates have to pay only SSP 10,000 for application forms and private primary school candidates shall pay 7,000.
However, the state education authorities increased the amount to SSP 30,000 and 21,000 respectively which caused an uproar among learners in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State who petitioned the state parliament to readjust the fees.
Alou Abik, one of the protestors, told Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that more than 40 student representatives came out to protest.
“We are more than 40 student representatives for primary and secondary school candidates for the 2022-2023 examinations and our main reason for being out today (Tuesday) is to demonstrate and raise the petition to state parliament concerning the SSP 30,000 and 21,000 fees which had been circulated to us by the state ministry of general education and instruction,” said Abik.
Another student identified as Daniel Tong from King Solomon International School said they submitted their petition to the state legislative assembly.
Meanwhile, the director-general of the state education ministry, Santino Bol Akot, confirmed the protests but he said the increment was presented to the government and not the students.
“There are activities that may be considered during examinations time, so we have proposed an additional budget,” he explained. “It is not the students to pay that money. We presented this to our government and it has taken the responsibility.”
On his part, Angelo Mou, the chairperson of the information committee at the state assembly, confirmed that the lawmakers received the students’ petition and that consultations are ongoing and a final resolution will be made on Thursday (today).
“They (students) came yesterday (Tuesday) with their petition on the money that was proposed by the state ministry of general education,” he said. “They (students) have agreed with the assembly so we have to reduce the exam fees and by Thursday, the assembly will respond to their issue.”