Security agents close three printing services centres in South Sudan

Newspaper vendors chat on their way to sell newspapers in Juba, South Sudan. Recently, the South Sudanese government has attempted to restrict local newspapers' ability to cover the ongoing political crisis in neighboring Sudan. (Adriane Ohanesian/Reuters)

Security personnel in Kuajok Town of Warrap State in South Sudan, have shut down three commercial computer centres for allegedly leaking the recently concluded Certificate of Education Examination in the area.

According to the Mayor of Kuajok Town, Ayok Chol Ayok, the unnamed printing stations reportedly aided some individuals to photocopy exam papers.

"The security personnel closed three printing services on the allegation that somebody has printed exam papers and these computer centres’ owners have no problem but somebody who printed exam papers should have been the one to be caught," Ayok told Radio Tamazuj on Friday.

Ayok said his administration in collaboration with security apparatus in the area will investigate the matter.

“I will find out later about the arrest because this happened when I was in an SPLM training,” Mr. Ayok added.

Responding to the allegations, Warrap State Minister of Education Kuot Deng Kuot refuted claims linking the incident to the recent exams.

He said this year’s papers were technically encrypted compared to previous years.

"Those exams can't be leaked and I didn't get information concerning the leakages. There might be a different reason why security apparatus closed them but not connected with exams,” Kuot denied.

“The exams can't be leaked because it came sealed and with its mentioned date and if it is opened, it can even be known in headquarters of examination centre in Juba," he stated.

Kuot claimed that the security forces might have detected different documents from the fortified general examination.

"What I know is that there could be people who cheated students with their fake exams and claimed that they have got the bulletins and some students may think this is real and they go for it.”

“There is no leakage of exams in Warrap State, we don't have any inconvenience concerning senior four exams," Kuo stressed.

There have been reported incidences connected to examination leakage across the country in the past.

In March this year, seven teachers were arrested by National Security for allegedly leaking primary school papers via WhatsApp groups.