By Philip Buda Ladu
South Sudan Cabinet has approved two crucial policy frameworks of the Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology to develop and transform the high education sector to become sustainable and competitive.
Minister of Higher Education, Gabriel Changson Chang, presented the policy frameworks to the Council of Ministers during its 15th meeting of 2024. The meeting, chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, listened and deliberated on only one agenda, which comprised three presentations by the minister of higher education.
Government’s Spokesperson, Michael Makuei explained in a press briefing the details of the meeting.
First, a presentation on the policy framework of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology; another presentation on the policy framework of science, technology, and innovation; and finally, a report about the renovation of the Ministry of Higher Education.
Makuei explained that the first two presentations made to the cabinet were ministerial policies.
“These policies of the Ministry of Higher Education were meant to strengthen, modify, guide, develop, and transform the higher education sector and improve the higher education to make it accessible, equitable, sustainable, and competitive,” Makuei said.
According to the minister, the two policy frameworks were estimated at a cumulative cost of 2 million US dollars and the equivalent of about 3.6 billion South Sudan pounds.
“The first policy framework is at the cost of 1.5 million US dollars, which is about 2.7 billion South Sudan pounds (SSP), and the second policy framework is at the cost of 500,000 US dollars, which is approximately SSP 900 million.
After thorough deliberation, these two policy frameworks were approved and passed by the cabinet, and the minister of higher education was directed to present them to the national legislative assembly for consideration.