President Salva Kiir has issued a decree on Friday creating a 41-person council on higher education, chaired by the minister of higher education and with membership of other key officials such as the head of the national assembly, the central bank governor and an undersecretary from the finance minister.

The president also in the decree appointed as members the undersecretary of ministry of labor, undersecretary of the ministry public service and human development, undersecretary of the ministry of general education and instruction, and chief administrator in the office of the president.

Kiir said in his decree appointed as members the chairperson of the university council of Juba, chairperson of the University of Bahr Ghazal, chairperson of the university council of Upper Nile, chairperson of the university council of Rumbek university of science and technology, chairperson of the university of Dr. John Garang Memorial University of science and technology.

Other members are the vice chancellors of the universities of Juba, Bahr El Ghazal, Upper Nile, Dr. John Garang Memorial, Rumbek University and Catholic University of South Sudan.

Kiir named Professors Richard Hassan Kalamsakit, George Bureng, Ajang Bior, Taban Lolyoing, Charles Bakit and Asha Abdurrahim as members. Also included as members are Paul Mayom Aketch, Dr. Marial Awroo, Mr. Obach William Olo, Miss. Margret Mathew Matiang, Anne Ito, Priscilla Joseph Kuch, and Gai Turbit Yatch.

Director generals in the higher education ministry and other officials will also join the council.