15,000 S. Sudanese students eligible for higher education

September 14. 2014 (JUBA) – At least 15,000 South Sudanese students are eligible to join various higher learning institutions this year, the education ministry said in a report.

John Gai Yoh, the education, science and technology minister said scholarships were awarded to students studying medicine, pharmacy, engineering and petroleum.

Yoh, while appearing before lawmakers, said the students’ selection criteria was fair and transparent.

The national assembly had earlier on raised a red flag, citing regional imbalances in the allocation of scholarships to the beneficiaries.

A total of 1,050 students will be admitted to universities with Egypt and Sudan, each admitting 300. Ethiopia has places for 250 students while Zimbabwe has 200.

“All the applicants must be South Sudanese nationals bearing all the necessary national requirements with a South Sudan Secondary Certificate. They will pay an application fee of SSP 25,” Yoh told MPs.

The process of allocating the scholarship will be handled by an adhoc-committee chaired by Changuor Adong Manyang.

The minister further added that 150 postgraduate scholarships will strictly be offered to academic staffs of various public universities.

“This year, our public universities are expected to admit not more than 6,500 students as we are prepare to direct some of them to teacher training institutes and technical schools,” he said.

QUESTIONS OVER SELECTION CRITERIA

Meanwhile, the leader of minority in parliament, Onyoti Adigo raised concern over the vulnerability of the process to abuse by calling for examination to authenticate foreign certificates during selection.

But the education minister said students from abroad can only be offered scholarship opportunities after the authentication of certificates from the foreign missions in the mentioned countries.

“And this will be aided by the South Sudan directorate of authentication in the ministry of education and foreign affairs,” he said.

Yoh also disclosed that the president and cabinet want special consideration give to females, children of martyrs and the disabled.

Thomas Wani Kundu, chairperson of information committee in the assembly said the scholarships will increase the number of qualified people who in turn will develop both the public and private sector.

‘’These qualified people will help in the process of implementing the 80% occupation of position in the NGOs by South Sudanese nationals. It is a gradual implementation at the moment,” he said.

(ST)