By Ngor Deng Matem
The administration of Polytechnic College of Health Science in Aweil, Northern Bahr El Ghazal has decried shortage of teaching staff and lecture halls.
The Principal of the College, Professor Stephen Chol Ajongo made the complaint yesterday when the education committee team from the Council of States visited Aweil to assess the site and challenges facing the university.
Prof. Ajongo said that the school needs more lecture halls and teaching staff, including budget to operate the university.
“The number of staff we have is very few and we don’t have a budget for our activities. It is the state government that supports us through one day cuts from the civil Servants and post holders. The contributions from local chiefs across Northern Bahr el Ghazal are what we are using for the construction of the fence. So, we are encouraging our people and well wishers to support us,” the Professor said.
He added that the ministry of higher education had earlier approved a budget for education program and that they have been encouraging students to apply.
Meanwhile, the head of the delegation who doubles as chairperson of the education committee in the council of states, Hon Daniel Malong Achuoth said that they have been assigned to assess the progress and challenges of five public universities in the States.
“We are here to meet with the administration of this college and other public universities and polytechnics in Bentiu and Torit. We want to know the challenges so that we can plan well on how to address them. So here, we have learnt from the administration and indeed there are challenges we have seen by ourselves,” Achuoth said.
Early this week, the Governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, Tong Akeen said that a prominent South Sudanese businessman Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel pledged to construct lecture halls, administration units and 12 latrines for the university.
The committee that was formed to mobilize resources to construct more public universities in the country has scheduled a fund raising event on 24th April, 2022, and they are appealing to everyone in Juba to attend the event and provide any available support, especially sons and daughters of Aweil in diaspora.