A 47-year-old mother of four is making history by sitting for her first-ever South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) exam in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State.
As candidates across the country begin their exams today, Medina Kiden is among the 962 students who are starting with Christian Religious Education, aiming to perform better than the previous year’s cohort.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Medina Kiden shared her excitement and pride at taking the exam for the first time in her life. She expressed confidence in her preparations, attributing it to the early release of the exam timetable, which allowed her ample time to review her lessons.
“I am happy and very grateful to sit for this examination,” she said. “This is my first time attending such an exam, and I am excited because this year, I will receive my national certificate. I have prepared well because the timetable was released early, which gave us the opportunity to study and revise. We are not just relying on Google, but revising what our teachers have taught us.”
Medina also encouraged other women in Yei River County to follow her example and return to school to pursue their dreams, regardless of their family responsibilities.
“My message to fellow women, especially in Yei River County, is that they should not limit themselves just because they are mothers or have responsibilities at home,” she said. “Every woman has the opportunity to study. Let them come out and pursue their education.”
Reflecting on her educational journey, Medina shared how she started her studies in 2020, completing her Primary Leaving Examination at Jigomoni Primary School. In 2022, she joined Senior One at Yei Day Secondary School, where she continued to study in the following years, eventually becoming part of the team that helped establish Kinji Secondary School in the second term.
“I started in Level 3 at Kinji Primary School, and in 2020, I completed my Primary Leaving Examination at Jigomoni Primary School. In 2022, I joined Senior One at Yei Day Secondary School, and this year, I was part of the team that helped open Kinji Secondary School.”
A total of 48,000 students across South Sudan, from the ten states and three administrative areas, are sitting for the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education, beginning with Christian Religious Education.
Medina Kiden’s journey is a powerful reminder of the importance of education and perseverance, inspiring other women and adults to continue their pursuit of knowledge, no matter their age or life circumstances.