THE AFRICA TIMES | SOUTH SUDAN —
AWEIL – The Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Ministry of Education and Instruction reports that 32 students missed the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education exams. These students were expected to participate along with 2,606 candidates state-wide last week.
However, they did not appear for the scheduled examinations.
Examination Absences
Reasons for Absence
The Director-General in the ministry stated that most students cited illness as the reason for their absence. Other students gave “unverified reasons” that included fear or inadequate preparation for the exams.
According to the ministry, 18 of the absent students were male, and 14 were female. Officials consider the explanations provided by the students to be largely unsubstantiated.
Ministry Concerns
Valentino Anei Deng, the Director-General, expressed the ministry’s regret concerning the missed opportunity for students to assess their academic abilities. He acknowledged challenges faced by both students and teachers this year.
Anei also affirmed that the examinations were free of malpractice. He characterized the absences as isolated cases of candidates who may have lacked sufficient preparation, offering his best wishes to them.
Broader Educational Challenges
Systemic Issues
South Sudan’s education sector continues to face significant challenges. These include low teacher motivation and prolonged delays in the payment of salaries and arrears.
Analysts suggest that the government needs to prioritize education. Furthermore, they contend that critical sectors like healthcare also require greater attention in order to meet basic standards.
