The latest development that barred candidates in opposition strongholds from writing their exams is nothing but troubling. The country is undergoing some of the most unprecedented times in history, and so are the candidates, who have worked tirelessly in preparation for their final exams – just to be stopped at the last minute because insecurity in their geolocations could not allow the delivery of exam materials.
The government has initially stated unequivocally that candidates in areas under the control of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) would not sit for their final exams because of alleged insecurity in the areas in question.
Pok Baluang, the SPLM-IO Director for Information and Public Relations said the decision was politically charged and that no communication was made with the party to ascertain the security status of the areas under its control before the government took what he described as unjust decision.
In a country where a government of national unity awaits a complete formation, the move to halt exams for a section of candidates sparked outrage. It also begged questions on cooperation between officials from the two parties dominating the new government.
A few days later, the Ministry of General Education and Instruction backtracked on the decision and equivocally announced it will set new dates for candidates who had missed exams to return to their respective centres.
On Thursday, 11 February 2021, Awut Deng Acuil, the Minister of General Education and Instruction, announced new dates for the second phase of primary eight examinations. They will start on Monday, 15th to Friday, 19th. That is positive.
But one key question lingers. What does such arrangements mean to the credibility and standard of the exams? An attempt to answer this question will certainly be incomplete without pointing to a drop in the standard of the country’s education system and subsequent production of pseudo graduates.
As South Sudan runs behind schedule to complete the formation of the revitalized transitional government of national unity, school-going children must not be affected by whatever decision taken by authorities, sometimes under the influence of frustration and international pressure.
Education, like agriculture, is the country’s backbone. This means, all children must be allowed to study in a safe and secure environment because they are the future of South Sudan. The politicisation of education system is not only disastrous to the future of learners but also to the community in which they live.
South Sudan ranks the least in East Africa and among the least in the continent and the world at large in terms of education. The coronavirus has worsened the phenomenon as over 2 million children remain out of school.
Nothing could be more humane than allowing a candidate who made it through thick and thin to sit for his or her exams. “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers” is an adage synonymous with a brawl between elitist parties disadvantaging the less powerful.
But we have come too far and still have a long way to go. Such adage should not be applicable on learners, not now, not in future. Tom and Jerry should play it safe.