By Abraham Anyon Ngoor
President Salva Kiir Mayardit is expected to ring the bell in unspecified state on Monday to signal the start of the secondary education examinations, official said.
An estimated 35,459 candidates are sitting for the secondary leaving examinations, with 12,539 females and 22,820 males across the country.
The exams are expected to begin on March 20, 2023, according to the Ministry of General Education and Instructions.
Addressing the media yesterday, the deputy minister of general education, Martin Tako confirmed that all examination papers have reached all the states, adding that the President is likely to ring the bell in one of the states.
“As of yesterday, all the examination papers arrived in all the centers all over South Sudan, it’s not really easy. You are aware of natural disaster especially in Greater Upper Nile region, it’s really not easy,” Tako said.
“Now, the bell will be rung by the President in one of our states and that marks the kickoff of the process of secondary school certificate examination,” he added.
He explained that a week after sitting the examination, all papers should be returned to Juba to accelerate the marking processes and release of results in appropriate times.
“We hope after a week, we will have all the papers back …trying to mark them as quick as possible so that we declare the certificate results and first year university [candidates] are enrolled,” he echoed.
Mr. Tako cited that people are always complaining over the delays in marking the papers which in turn delays intake processes but he assured the public that the ministry has overcome the matter.
“Everything will go okay, and we are determined that we will implement new academic year properly and at the right time. That is the first thing I want to assure our public about,” he assured.
“Because it’s always worrying that we are not processing the examinations in the right time; the first-year secondary students are admitted after two and three months and first year university also takes times but we have overcome most of these difficulties,” Tako claimed.
He also revealed that some difficulties faced by the education docket due to insecurity and floods among others especially in Greater Upper Nile region.
According to Greater Pibor Administrative Area authorities, only one female candidate enrolled for the forthcoming South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education examination.
Simon Gain, the area minister for general education and instruction, attributed the low enrollment of girls to cultural norms, which remains a stumbling block.
Gain also said that last year’s intercommunal fight, which displaced most of the residents, had contributed to the low enrollment.
George Barnaba Giroch, head teacher of Riyo Jakor secondary school in Pibor, said there is only one secondary school operating in the area.
Barnaba stated that there were more than 20 female candidates, but that the recent intercommunal fighting has resulted to low enrollment this year.