A group of envoys have called on the government to do everything within its power to ensure that all the Primary Eight candidates in SPLM-IO areas are examined.

The team met First Vice President Dr Riek Machar and the Minister for General Education and Instruction Awut Deng Acuil to break the deadlock and ensure that candidates are not denied the right to examination.

‘‘We welcome the engagement with both the First Vice President and the Minister on this pressing issue and thank them for their time and willingness to discuss potential solutions to ensure that all children can complete their Primary exams,’’ the diplomats stated.

The delegation encompassed heads of missions of UK, USA, Norway, Sweden and the Head of European Union Delegation.

They protested that learners who had laboured so hard had to be caught in the melee to the extent of missing out on examination. They reassured their commitment to support the sector.

‘‘As donors to the education sector, we affirm the right of every child to access education and remain deeply concerned that children who have worked so hard to prepare for the examinations may miss out.

We remain committed to supporting the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity to find a quick solution, including through R-ARCSS mechanisms,’’ they note in the statement.

They have called on the government to ensure that all learners sit for the examinations regardless of places they come from as soon as possible.

Finger-pointing

The issue emerged on February 4 when the ministry of education was taken to task by parliamentary committee on education over the decision to snub the SPLM-IO areas.

But the ministry accused the leadership of the movement of attempt to sabotage the examination process through harassment and intimidation of education officials. The ministry even told the committee that it aired concerns with the First Vice President but no solution was reached.

SPLM-IO on the other rubbished such claims as political stunts, as the leadership protested the move it described as discriminating.

Learners in close seven counties have been affected by the anomalies.