Awut Deng
Achuil, the minister of General Education and Instruction, has strongly
cautioned Primary Eight candidates against engaging in exam cheating, or
"machot" as it is known in the country.
This year,
551 centers throughout South Sudan will host 79,010 candidates—43,275 males and
35,735 females—to take their primary school exams.
Addressing
the candidates during the official bell-ringing ceremony, Minister Awut
emphasized, “After eight years of preparation, it is now your time to shine. I
wish you the best in your exams because your teachers have done their best to
prepare you. My appeal to all teachers across the country is to refrain from
any leaks or cheating. Please do not assist the pupils; you have already
equipped them well.”
She further
advised the students, “You have been adequately prepared, so do not look for
someone to assist you. You are smart, and you are the leaders of tomorrow. I do
not want to hear anything related to machot during this examination period.”
Vice
President for the Services Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, for his part, also
shared words of encouragement.
He described
this period as a crucial time for both candidates and teachers to assess the
progress made over the years.
He extended
his best wishes to all candidates, urging them to focus and avoid any form of
exam malpractice.
“As you sit
for your exams, please concentrate,” Hussein said. “I strongly discourage any
cheating, as it can have severe consequences. I urge you all to stay away from
exam malpractices.”
Additionally,
he called on teachers to uphold integrity and professionalism, stressing that
they play a crucial role in safeguarding the examination process.
“I warn
teachers against engaging in any exam malpractice. Those found aiding cheating
will face legal prosecution. I expect teachers to act as watchdogs, ensuring
that exams are conducted under strict supervision,” Abdelbagi added.
