S. Sudanese gov’t begins paying students’ allowances in Egypt
September 14, 2015 (RUMBEK) – A delegation from the education ministry in South Sudan is in Egypt to sort out outstanding students’ allowances accrued for 11 months.
The deputy education minister, Bol Makueng is leading the team of ministry officials.
The aggrieved students had for several weeks occupied the South Sudanese embassy in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, forcing the indefinate suspension of its normal operations.
Kot Maker, the student’s spokesman said that payment had started with the 20 students whose scholarships had been terminated by the education ministry. He said colleges like law, commerce and political sciences were affected by the education ministry’s decision.
“There is new development, students are receiving their bursaries since yesterday [Sunday] midnight and the embassy is functioning as usual,” Maker told Sudan Tribune.
During a heated debate that ensured between students and education officials, one of the students, Emmanuel Babo, was reportedly seized and briefly detained in the embassy.
“Yes it is true, Emmanual Babo the cultural attachee and his deputy cashier were detained by us, but we released them shortly after payments started”, said Maker.
At least 160 South Sudanese students are on scholarship in Egypt pursuing various courses. Each student will get an allowance of $1100, education ministry officials said.
(ST)