Sheila Ponnie
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Martin Tako Moyi, the Deputy Minister of General Education and Instructions. [Sheila Ponnie, The City Review]
Lack of funds is to blame for the delay in marking of Senior Four Secondary School Certificates examinations, the government said.
Martin Tako Moyi, the Deputy Minister of General Education and Instructions, told the media on Monday that the government was looking for resources to mark the exams and provide results within the right time.
“Now that we have received part of the funding for marking the examinations, we are grateful to His Excellency the President of the Republic, the Vice President for Service Cluster, and the Honorable Minister of Finance for trying their level best to see to it that the examination papers are marked,” he said.
“The marking of secondary school certificate has been delayed and the reason for delay is obvious that we did not receive the necessary funding for marking the examination,” he added.
He revealed that the ministry was prepared and had invited teachers from the 10 states and three administrative regions but the whole process was derailed by the funding shortage.
“We have been unable to move forward with this critical task,” he said.
The delay in marking the examinations has not only posed a challenge but has also impacted the academic year, according to Moyi.
Last month, the ministries of health, education and environment ordered closure of all schools countrywide due to a heatwave in which temperatures reached to 45C (113F).
He said the two-week long closure was to ensure safety of students, teachers, and the public.
“We are committed to expediting the marking process within a three-week timeframe,” he assured. “This will allow us to produce results promptly and minimize further disruption to the academic calendar.”
Last week, Zachariah Matur, a Member of the National Parliament, said the government needed SSP1.5 billion to finish the marking exercise.
“The Ministry of Finance is fully responsible for not paying this amount to the Ministry of Education, so they can complete their work,” said Matur.
Matur however lamented that the papers had been stored in inadequate conditions, without proper ventilation, risking potential damage.
He further expressed deep concerns over the repercussions of the delay, stressing that if the situation persisted, the examination papers would be spoilt further.
He lamented the government’s inability to secure funds even through the National Revenue Authority, highlighting the severity of the financial challenges faced by the nation, labeling it as a failure on the part of the country’s leadership.
The lawmaker underscored the urgency of resolving the issue to provide clarity to the affected students. He lamented the government’s inability to secure funds, highlighting the severity of the financial challenges faced by the nation.
In response to the crisis, Matur pledged to address the matter at the parliamentary level to explore potential solutions. He stressed the importance of promptly resolving the issue to mitigate the adverse impact on the students’ academic pursuits.
Approximately 45,000 pupils across the country took the exam in December of last year. However, since then, students are unable to receive comments on their performance.
The 2023 South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations saw approximately 45,000 students sit for the exams in December. With the marking process finally underway, students and educators alike eagerly anticipate the release of exam results, which Moyi said would be available within three weeks.
Moyi also said there was an adjustment in the education calendar, where first term holidays would be limited to just one week.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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