Students in Akobo town, Jonglei State, South Sudan, staged a peaceful demonstration on Saturday, November 14, calling on authorities to ensure they can sit their national examinations. The demonstration comes two days before Grade 8 examinations are scheduled to begin on Monday, November 16, with Grade 12 examinations due to start on November 23. The students expressed their concerns, saying "We are children, not politicians."
The Akobo Education Authority has appealed to the National Ministry of Education, education partners, civil society organisations, and international agencies to intervene. In a letter, the authority warned that hundreds of candidates could miss the examinations if necessary arrangements are not made. The authority cited delays in coordination among relevant authorities as a major challenge, threatening students' academic prospects.
According to Peter Buom Reat, the education director of Akobo Education Authority, the time remaining before the examinations is extremely short, and necessary arrangements have not been finalised. The authority suggested that political disagreements among officials could be contributing to the difficulties and urged stakeholders to keep education separate from political disputes.
Akobo County, located in eastern Jonglei State, near South Sudan's border with Ethiopia, is administered by the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), rather than the government in Juba. This political and administrative division can complicate coordination with national education authorities, adding to the challenges faced by students and education officials.
The authority called on international non-governmental organisations, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and other development partners to facilitate dialogue and help establish practical arrangements for the examinations. They requested urgent engagement between education and examination officials, assistance in securing safe and timely access to examination materials, and clear communication channels.
The authority also urged stakeholders to resolve outstanding disagreements peacefully and ensure that students are not subjected to discrimination, intimidation, or administrative delays. With Grade 8 examinations due to begin on Monday, students and education officials are pressing for urgent intervention to prevent candidates in Akobo from missing the national examinations.
The situation highlights the need for swift action to resolve the challenges faced by students in Akobo and ensure that they can sit their national examinations as scheduled. The education authority's appeal to stakeholders and international organisations underscores the importance of keeping education separate from politics and ensuring that students' academic prospects are not compromised.
Key points
- Students in Akobo, South Sudan, protest over uncertainty surrounding national examinations.
- The Akobo Education Authority appeals to stakeholders and international organisations for intervention.
- Political divisions and administrative challenges complicate coordination with national education authorities.
