By Jurugo Emmanuel Ogasto
Marking of South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) examination papers is yet to start on Monday.
Secretary General of the National Examination (NEC), Mr. Simon Nyok Deng, disclosed to No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, that the exercise delayed due to funding challenges.
In early December last year, at least 44,991 S.4 candidates, comprised of 28,289 males (63 percent) and 16,685 females (37 percent), sat for the 2023 CSE exams.
But after nearly five months of waiting for the results that were supposed to determine the enrollment of candidates into the university or higher institutions of learning, they are left with hanging hopes.
Speaking to the No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper yesterday, NEC secretary general Simon Nyok noted that the papers were still not marked because the finance ministry couldn’t disburse a budget, which is said to be 1.5 billion South Sudanese pounds.
He stressed that the marking was delayed due to a lack of funds, which were not released on time to facilitate the selected teachers who will mark the papers.
“It’s very unfortunate that it has taken us four months without marking the papers; we all know that the government has just passed the budget, so they have given us half of the money out of the budget,’’ he stated.
Nyok now offers a glimmer of hope to the waiting candidates as he announces that marking will finally commence on Monday, April 29, 2024.
According to him, the exam markers have been arriving in Juba since Thursday from across the country.
“We are expecting 1,700 teachers, and then on Monday we shall start marking the papers,’’ he announced.
Nyok appealed for more patience and calm among the parents and worried pupils, saying that within a four-month period, the result would be out.
“I can still advise there should be patience, as the government is doing its best and within three to four months things will be ready,’’ he stressed.
Taban William Tombe, a retired teacher, emphasized that the Ministry of General Education and the National Examinations Council should promote transparency about national examinations instead of shrouding them in mystery.
He said delaying results and examinations is one of the reasons why parents prefer sending their children to other neighboring countries in the region for better education.
“Education sectors should develop transparency for citizens to believe that the standard of education is the best in South Sudan,” he stated. “Many parents send their children to Uganda and Kenya because they need their children to study without complaints and worries.”