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The Minister of General Education and Instruction has
pledged reforms in South Sudan's examination system after acknowledging the
unprecedented delays that hit the release of the 2024 Certificate of Secondary
Education (CSE) results.
Addressing the 21st Ordinary Meeting of the South Sudan
National Examination Council.
Dr. Kuyok Abol Kuyok, admitted that the delay had disrupted
the academic calendar and caused anxiety across the country.
"First and foremost, to apologize profoundly for the
unprecedented delay in the processing of the results of CSE this year. This
delay has caused a lot of problems for all of us, so I want to apologize really
to the parents, to the candidates and the entire country. And I assure you,
this will not happen again," Abol said.
The minister attributed the setback to logistical and
financial constraints but noted that examination officials had gone to great
lengths to ensure nationwide participation.
"Our investigators had to walk through rivers and
streams and swamps to ensure that every candidate had the opportunity to
attempt her or his examination papers," Abol revealed.
To avoid future disruptions, Abol announced new measures,
including stricter oversight of examination fees, investment in ICT, and timely
release of funds by the Ministry of Finance.
He cautioned schools against exploiting parents.
“This morning, I received an examination fee slip from a
school in Juba, demanding the double of the amount approved by the National
Examination Council. I urge the State Ministers of Education to be diligent and
strictly adhere to the set fees. This is very important. We don't want our
parents, our students to be ripped off," he warned.
Despite the challenges, the minister highlighted a
significant progress for girls, attributing it partly to the UK-funded Girls'
Education South Sudan (GESS) program.
He also credited the government for prioritizing girls’
education and pledged continued reforms to address dropouts and teacher
shortages.
The Minister expressed gratitude to government leaders,
including Vice President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel and Finance Minister Dr. Marial
Dongrin, for securing resources to complete the marking process.
“I think without the support of His Excellency the Vice
President and the Minister of Finance, we would have been struggling until
today to produce the results. So I think we need to appreciate them,” he
stated.
The minister further congratulated students for their
resilience and promised a more efficient system going forward.
“Once again, I would like to congratulate all the students.
Your hard work and determination inspire us all. We wish you the very best in
your future endeavors. May you continue to learn, grow, and make a positive
impact on the world,” he asserted.
The results are scheduled to be officially released later
today.