End of term exams commence in N. Liech state: official

April 13, 2016 (JUBA) – End of term examinations have, despite months of insurgency in South Sudan’s Northern Liech state, officially started in all four counties, an official said.

Most of the education facilities and equipments had been destroyed during the conflict that has devastated Liech, one country’s newly created states.

“We do thank the patience of the citizens and the general public of the state, including students who have all along been following the educational curriculum of the republic of South Sudan and we the state thank the ministry of education at the national level and request more supports because of we are one of the states ruined by war,” the state information minister, Lam Tungwar said in a statement.

He however said, despite being behind schedule, they will try to cover the existing gaps in the education curriculum.

“We are behind every schedule and want the educational gap to be sealed as soon as possible through educational organisation at the state and the national level,” said Lam.

He lauded the state government for its continued efforts and commitment to support education within the region.

It is through education that the state will develop, the minister stressed in his statement.

Over two years of conflict has had an inevitable impact on education in South Sudan, given the fact that over three quarters of adults in the young nation are unable to read or write. A 2012 report by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) revealed that less than 2% of population in world’s youngest nation had completed primary school education.

(ST)