Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Minister of Education in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Akoon Diing Angok, has strongly cautioned parents, teachers, and invigilators against machot—a local slang referring to exam cheating or malpractice—as the state prepares for national examinations set to begin on Monday.
Speaking after the state received the sealed boxes containing the examination papers, Akoon reassured the public that tight security measures had been put in place to safeguard the integrity of the exams. He disclosed that the papers have been secured inside police cells to prevent any tampering, leakage, or unauthorised access.
“I want to inform the public that we have received the examinations in sealed boxes, and I have made sure they are safely locked in the police cells,” he said.
“We do not want any form of machot. What we want is for our pupils and students to rely on their intelligence. Let them test their understanding. Our teachers have worked hard despite many challenges, and it is now time for the learners to demonstrate what they have learned,” he added.
Akoon extended a special appeal to parents and guardians, urging them to create a conducive environment at home to allow learners—especially girls—to adequately prepare for the examinations. He stressed that parental support is essential during the final preparation period.
The minister revealed that more than 20,000 candidates will sit for the examinations across 80 centres in the state. He called on invigilators to uphold professionalism, warning them against activities that could compromise the credibility of the exams.
“I am urging the invigilators to avoid illicit behaviour such as secretly reviewing exams at night,” he cautioned. “This practice is outdated and harmful. Northern Bahr el Ghazal must showcase the true strength of its education system. That can only happen when exams are conducted with honesty and transparency.”
Akoon also appealed for logistical support for candidates who will be travelling from remote areas to sit for the examinations. Many will spend a week at their examination centres before returning home to await results, making community support crucial.
He acknowledged that in previous years, examinations in the state were tainted by machot, which led to inflated pass rates. However, such results often failed to translate into strong academic performance in colleges and universities. This year, he said, the state is determined to break that cycle by prioritising integrity and fair assessment.
Akoon expressed hope that parents, teachers, and invigilators will join hands to ensure a clean, credible examination process that reflects the true abilities of learners across Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
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