One hundred and twenty-six South Sudanese students studying on government scholarships in Ethiopia are facing possible expulsion over unpaid residence permit fees and other legal requirements. The students, who are part of the Jonglei State government scholarship program at Debre Tabor University, have been given a deadline by the university administration to clear their accumulated permit arrears. Chudier David Dabuol, a student leader, says they have been unable to obtain residence permits for about eight months.
According to Dabuol, the students arrived in Ethiopia last year but have been studying without residence permits for almost eight months. The issue has escalated, with the university reportedly coming under pressure over the students' lack of legal documents. The students were informed that those without the required documents would not be allowed to continue their studies. Dabuol says the situation is beyond the students' capacity and requires urgent intervention from the national and Jonglei State governments.
The students have sought assistance from the Jonglei State government and are also calling for intervention from the national government, particularly the Ministry of Higher Education and other relevant authorities. Dabuol says Jonglei State officials have engaged education authorities over the matter, but the students remain concerned about a deadline reportedly issued by the university president. The president has given the students until Friday to clear their arrears or risk being expelled.
The students requested several additional weeks to allow government authorities to intervene, but the university reportedly told them it is under pressure from the Ethiopian government and cannot wait longer. Dabuol warned that if the students don't respond by Friday, they could be expelled from the university. The situation is particularly worrying because the students have already completed an academic year at the university.
The students are appealing to the national and Jonglei State governments to urgently intervene, saying the issue cannot be resolved by the students and many cannot afford the amount demanded. The arrears of $12,000 each is a significant amount for the students, and they are relying on government assistance to resolve the issue. The students' plight highlights the challenges faced by scholarship students studying abroad.
The Jonglei State government scholarship program is aimed at providing educational opportunities for students from the state. However, the program has been hit by the issue of unpaid residence permit arrears, which has put the students' academic future at risk. The national government has been urged to intervene and assist the students in resolving the issue.
The students' case has raised concerns about the support provided to scholarship students studying abroad. The incident highlights the need for better coordination and support for students studying abroad, particularly in terms of administrative requirements such as residence permits. The outcome of the students' appeal for assistance remains to be seen.
Key points
- The students have been given a deadline to clear their arrears or risk being expelled.
- The students are appealing to the national and Jonglei State governments for urgent intervention.
- The issue highlights the challenges faced by scholarship students studying abroad.
