S. Sudan earmarks SSP 22m for technical students

July 27, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s council of ministers has allocated SSP 22 million as allowances for students pursing technical courses in four African countries.

Over 1,000 students have reportedly been awarded scholarships in various technical disciplines in Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.

“The Sudan government is giving us 300 scholarships; Egypt has given us 300, Ethiopia has given us 400 and Zimbabwe 200,” said information minister, Michael Makuei Leuth.

“These are scholarships for different specialisations and most of them are actually on a technical training because this is the area which we need most. In south Sudan, we are not very much in need of graduates and PHD [Doctorate of Philosophy] holders, but we are in need of technocrats, technical people who will be doing jobs on the ground,” he added.

A committee, the minister further said, has been formed by the government to select eligible students to “avoid complaints of bias”. He did not, however, elaborate on the composition of this committee or when selection process starts.

(ST)