A call for fair distribution of scholarship grants in the new nation

After CPA was signed in 2005, many countries sympathize with South Sudan under GoSS, and as a result scholarships were granted by these friendly countries for South Sudanese students to study in their countries. The purpose was to train South Sudanese such that they could take responsibility in developing their own country by themselves.

But unfortunately, there is no clear policy in managing these scholarships, where applying for these scholarships is done secretly and where announcement for public to apply is done after favored students applications were received, the announcement is done just for formality.

The notable one is the recent education scholarship granted by the government of Egypt, the period given for applying was only a week, where thousands of students were denied the right to apply as a result of short period given by committee at Ministry of Higher Education for the students to apply. The students who wanted to apply were not able to process issuing of new Passport put among other requirement, in addition to that, those students in far states such as Upper Nile, Unity State and Jonglei State, who were not informed, were not able to apply.

Another case, it is scholarship grant in the Ministry of Petroleum for training in Malaysia, where one of the students alleged that his name has disappeared among students listed for medical check up after his name appeared among successful students published in The Citizen newspaper.

The aim of this article is to appeal for fairness in distribution of educational grants offered by friendly countries such as Egypt. The Ministry of Higher Education should make sure enough time is given for calling for applications from applicants, who may be far from Juba.

According to media reports, thousands of South Sudanese students are studying outside South Sudan, forty four thousands are studying in Uganda universities alone; just to mention few of them. Many people complain about how these educational grants are distributed among South Sudanese students, where information about time of applying is kept secret to the public, where time given for applying is shortened to deny many people the right to apply. Where on earth is one week given to students nationwide to apply?

In conclusion, the new nation is advised to introduce a system for fair distribution of scholarships, where education grants made by friendly countries are distributed equally among ten states, where students should apply through  their states and through coordination offices in the capital and  not through  Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Petroleum. The states  must distribute these grants to all counties, where information are circulated through radio stations, TV stations, newspapers, in the churches and mosques and where enough time is given for interested students to apply.

Therefore, by doing so, all social classes, all tribes of South Sudan, all counties and all states shall have equal opportunity of educating their people and by doing so, the SPLM motto of justice, equality and prosperity shall be achieved and nepotism, favoritism in educational sectors shall not find any room in the new nation.

May God Bless South Sudan