By Kei Emmanuel Duku
At least 23 South Sudan Police officers and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) departed for Ethiopia yesterday to pursue further studies.
Thirteen officers will undertake Bachelor’s degrees, eight will pursue Master’s degrees, and two will enroll in postgraduate programs. The duration of their studies will range from two to five years, depending on the specific courses.
The scholarships were awarded by the Ethiopian Police University following a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between the two countries’ police forces.
The selected officers were chosen after undergoing rigorous interviews conducted by the Ethiopian Police University.
The Master’s and Postgraduate courses include Security Management, Leadership and Change Management, Peace and Public Security Studies, Criminology, and Criminal Justice. Bachelor’s degree programs will cover Advanced Crime Investigation, Advanced Crime Prevention, Advanced Police Management, Generic Crime Investigation, Police Science, and Forensic Science.
Before their departure, Inspector General of Police Gen. Atem Marol Biar Kuek addressed the officers, urging them to maintain discipline and cooperate with their instructors.
Following the briefing, Gen. Atem visited the Directorate of Oilfield Protection for the first time. He listened to the challenges faced by the department and emphasized the importance of training officers and NCOs to professionalize the police force.
Col. John Kassara Koang Nhial, the Police Spokesperson, noted that this is the first time South Sudanese police officers have received full scholarships for studies in Ethiopia. Previously, South Sudanese police officers have participated in specialized training programs.