Secondary school students residing in Juba’s UN Protection of Civilians sites could not sit their final exams that started on Monday across South Sudan after humanitarian organizations’ efforts to convince the ministry of education failed to yield any fruits.
Over 900 students registered to sit their exams inside the UN camps in Juba but to their frustration they were informed that no exams will be administered at the PoCs this year.
Several meetings were held between the government and the UN Childrens’ Fund, UN Mission in South Sudan, the Norwegian Refugee Council. These organizations were appealing to the government to allow exams be taken at the PoCs in Juba. However, the government remained adamant.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj at the UN House on Monday, several teachers expressed their disappointment, saying they had put in a lot of effort that has gone to waste. But they pointed out that the students will wait for the coming year.
James Gatlong Riak, the headmaster for Hope Secondary School inside the PoC, said they were optimistic that the exams would kick off as negotiations between the ministry of education and humanitarian partners continued over the weekend. However, Riak said the students will have to wait for next years’ exams.
Meanwhile, another teacher who identified himself as Moses said hundreds of students staged protests inside the PoC 3 over the decision to cancel their examinations this year.
He pointed out the protesting students presented a petition to the United Nations, while calling on the international body to intervene as soon as possible.
The schools affected include Hope, Mat and Future secondary schools.
The South Sudan National Examinations for the academic year 2016-2017 started on Monday across the country, while students in southern Liech, Gok and Latjor states have been exempted from sitting the examinations this year.
More than 19,000 students had registered for the examinations including 13,636 males and 5,844 females.
Photo: Pupils singing national anthem at Kinji primary school in Yei (Radio Tamazuj)