About 1023 eligible candidates for South Sudan’s Secondary Leaving Examinations who hail from Jonglei state are sitting for their examps in the capital Juba instead, a local official said.
The State Minister of General Education Tut Kuony Nyang told Radio Tamazuj that the examinations that kicked off on 27 April were made available in six centres based in the capital Juba only.
“As you know very well that a large number of students fled to Juba with their parents, that’s why the ministry decided to relocate the centres to Juba,” he said. The exams are set to end on 5 May across the country. He further said schools in other counties that are under full control of the SPLM-IO rebels have been opened in Juba.
“The centres are Uror, Akobo, Nyirol and Ayod and Fangak and Bor counties,” he explained.
However, Tut said Bor School will be returned back to its area of origin during this year’s academic period. “With respect to the other school, they will remain operating in Juba until the security situation is restored,” he said.
The official claimed that they are paying teachers who are now sheltering in the UN base in Bor town, although they are not working. He confirmed his government’s commitment to ensure each child goes to school.
Education in rebel areas
Minister Tut Kuony said schools have already been opened in the rebel-controlled areas of Jonglei State according to reports they receive. He further said international organizations are paying the teachers in those areas, while some of the teachers are volunteers.
Tut pointed out that the education sector in the state is facing enormous challenges in terms of infrastructure after fighting erupting in South Sudan.