Western Equatoria State has begun sending 39 students to Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State under the Adut Salva Kiir Scholarship programme. The programme is named after Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit, the daughter of President Salva Kiir, who was appointed Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programmes in August 2025. The students, 21 girls and 18 boys, were selected from Western Equatoria to continue their secondary education from Senior One to Senior Four.
The Adut Salva Kiir Scholarship programme is intended to support vulnerable students and children of veterans from across South Sudan. According to Kubako Emmanuel, deputy director for examination and assessment at the State Ministry of General Education and Instruction and chairperson of the scholarship programme in Western Equatoria, the beneficiaries were selected based on academic and social criteria. The selection process involved evaluating students who had completed Primary Eight but whose families could not afford to pay for their secondary education.
Children of veterans were also considered for the scholarship, alongside students who obtained distinctions and credits in their Primary Eight examinations. Emmanuel emphasized that the programme had strict criteria, focusing on vulnerable students who cannot afford to pay for themselves to attend secondary school. This approach aimed to ensure that the scholarship benefits those who need it most.
The students were transported to Aweil by air due to poor road conditions in Western Equatoria. Eight students travelled by commercial flight on Thursday and had arrived safely in Aweil, according to Emmanuel. A further 13 students were scheduled to travel from Yambio to Juba before continuing to Aweil, while the remaining students are expected to travel later.
The Office of the President is facilitating transportation from Yambio to Juba and onward to Aweil. Emmanuel said the scholarship programme would also bring together students from different communities and parts of South Sudan. This initiative aims to foster unity and provide equal opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.
Some beneficiaries have expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm for the scholarship. Emmanuel Anthony, one of the beneficiaries, said the scholarship had given students from Western Equatoria an opportunity to pursue secondary education. He urged fellow beneficiaries to remain focused on their studies. Other beneficiaries, such as Kubanina Victor and Mborije Kaka, also shared their aspirations and appreciation for the scholarship.
Parents and residents in Yambio have welcomed the scholarship programme, appreciating the government’s decision to provide scholarships for secondary school students. Tambua William, a Yambio resident, said parents appreciate the initiative taken by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to provide scholarships for secondary school students. The programme is seen as a positive step towards supporting vulnerable students and promoting education in the country.
Key points
- The Adut Salva Kiir Scholarship programme aims to support vulnerable students and children of veterans from across South Sudan.
- The programme has strict criteria, focusing on students who cannot afford to pay for themselves to attend secondary school.
- The scholarship programme brings together students from different communities and parts of South Sudan, fostering unity and equal opportunities.
