S. Sudan education minister appears in parliament over scholarship places

September 10, 2014 (WUNROCK) – South Sudan’s minister for education, John Gai Yoh, and his deputy, Bol Makueng, appeared before parliament on Tuesday to answer questions on the large number of international scholarships on offer to South Sudanese students.

The matter was raised by Central Equatoria MP Bidali Moses Onesimo representing Yei River county in the national assembly, who requested the minister and his deputy explain the criteria the ministry will be using to award the scholarships across the country’s 10 states.

Last month, the director of the ministry of higher education announced that 1,050 scholarship places will be offered to South Sudanese in the 2014-15 academic year.

This includes 250 from the Egyptian government, 300 from Sudan, 250 from Ethiopia and 300 from Zimbabwe, while the Pakistani government will offer 10 separate scholarships for the same year.

Responding to the question, the minister said that secondary school leaving documents with a percentage not less than 70% will be one element of the selection criteria.

Yoh also confirmed his ministry would consider female candidates, as well as the children of those killed during South Sudan’s independence struggle.

“The national ministry is eligible to admit 15,000 students into the universities in the country this year, while 1000 would be sent abroad,” said the minister.

Yoh also appealed to the national assembly to give his ministry time to form an ad-hoc committee to oversee the selection process.Interested students are asked to visit the ministries of education in their respective states up until 21 August.

A compulsory application fee of 25 South Sudanese pounds applies and successful candidates are expected to cover their airfare.

(ST)