The Republic of South Sudan has announced that it will set its own secondary school leaving certificate examinations for the year 2013. This was announced on Tuesday in the country’s media following reports that they had not met obligations to Sudan over the issue of its Sudan Secondary Leaving Certificate.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, the general secretary of secondary leaving certificate examinations, Rajab Sedria Abdallah, said they decided to set these because they could not meet the deadline to pay Khartoum for the examination fees.  Khartoum has already informed them that the deadline passed.

Abdallah announced, “…we are late to pay Khartoum examinations fees and since we are late and Sudan has produced its index numbers we, the examinations council in South Sudan, have decided to make our own examinations similar to that of Sudan.”

Abdallah did point out however that the Memorandum of understanding which was signed between Sudan and South Sudan on the issue remains valid.

“It is true that Sudan and South Sudan have signed a memorandum of understanding on continuing Sudan School Certificate in South Sudan for three years.  We have implemented one year - 2012 - and we are left with 2013-2014” said Abdallah.

Regarding the South Sudanese students in Khartoum, the official said they can sit the Sudan School Certificate exams there and that it makes no difference.

Candidates throughout South Sudan due to sit the secondary leaving certificate this year have apparently been concerned over whether they would be able to take the exams or not.

Sudan and South Sudan signed a memorandum of understanding on the matter in 2011. The deal provides that South Sudanese students sit for the Sudan School Certificate for three years, ending in 2014. South Sudan in return shall pay for examinations and marking fees.