South Sudan is set to begin its 2021 Primary Leaving Examinations on February 14th, the national education minister announced on Thursday. 

Minister Awut Deng Achuil addressed the press in Juba.

"On behalf of the South Sudan National Examination Council, I take this opportunity to inform the candidates, parents and all stakeholders that all processes of the 2021 certificate of primary education examination have been put in place and the examination administration date has been fixed," Minister Awut announced. "The examinations begin on Monday 14th February 2022 and end on Friday 18th February 2022."

Awut says more than 50,000 candidates will sit for the examinations across the country.

"Specifically, a total of 53,220 candidates, 31,232 males, and 21,988 females have been registered for the examinations," she added. 

The minister further advised invigilators, security, and police officials to maintain security and the examination guidelines during the exams. 

"I would also like to inform the supervisors, invigilators, security, and police that the integrity of examinations processes are upheld during the national examinations exercise. You should play a central role in helping the examination council to ensure that security is maintained, and examinations are conducted in a fair and appropriate manner that allows the candidates to sit for examinations in a suitable environment," she advised.

Regarding the concerns of the teachers' salary for Central Equatoria State (CES) teachers who are on strike, the minister says the state government must pay its teachers.

"The teachers are on their rights, the state government must pay them fully. There is nothing to be negotiated here, we paid them full package and the state should look for any funds to clear this debt," she noted.