Warning to Schools Overcharging Exam Fees

The National Examination Council has issued a stern warning to schools that are imposing heavy examination charges on candidates preparing to sit for the 2022-2023 exams. The council has threatened to take severe punitive measures against these schools.

Background of the Issue

According to the Secretary General for the National Examination Council, Simon Nyok, the council has received reports of schools overcharging candidates in various states, including Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Western Equatoria. Nyok stated that this malpractice is not only happening in public schools but also in private schools, which are notorious for charging exorbitant fees.

Consequences of Overcharging

Nyok warned that schools found guilty of overcharging will face severe consequences. "We have to be law-abiding citizens, we have to follow what the law says, and the consequences can be severe," he cautioned. The council has the power to revoke licenses and withdraw examination center status from offending schools.

Fees Structure

The National Examination Council had earlier announced the registration of candidates for the National Exams, including the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) and the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE). The council specified the fees to be collected from candidates, which are as follows:

• Primary 8 candidates in public schools: 5,000 SSP
• Primary 8 candidates in private schools: 7,000 SSP
• Secondary school candidates in public schools: 7,000 SSP
• Secondary school candidates in private schools: 10,000 SSP

Refund of Excess Fees

Nyok directed that schools that have collected more than the stipulated fees must refund the excess amount to the candidates. He revealed that some schools are charging as much as 30,000 to 40,000 SSP, which is against the law.

Government’s Role in Exam Financing

The national government is responsible for financing all examination processes, including the payment of invigilators, police, and other personnel involved in the exams. Therefore, there is no justification for schools to levy high examination charges on candidates.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the National Examination Council is taking a strong stance against schools that are overcharging candidates. The council is committed to ensuring that all candidates have access to fair and affordable education. Schools that fail to comply with the specified fees structure will face severe consequences. The council’s efforts aim to promote transparency and accountability in the education sector, and to protect the rights of students and their families.

Historic Success in South Sudan’s Primary Certificate Examinations

Central Equatoria State’s Ministry of Education has reported a historic 94.5% pass rate for the 2024/2025 South Sudan Primary Certificate Examinations, marking the highest success rate in four years. A total of 19,942 students out of 21,092 candidates passed, showcasing significant academic progress in the state.

Academic Performance by Institution Type

Private schools dominated, with 96.6% of their 16,305 candidates passing—far exceeding government schools (88%) and alternative education programs (84.1%). The State’s Minister of General Education, Cirisio Zakaria Lado, hailed the achievement as a testament to the dedication of students, teachers, and stakeholders. He commended the private institutions, which accounted for all the top-performing schools and students.

Top-Performing Students and Schools

Felix Luwala Wani of JCC Hai Negil was the best male student, with 94.7%, while the best female student, Gifty Chandia Remis of JCC model, scored 94.5%. JCC Model Primary School emerged as the leading school in Central Equatoria at 89.8, followed by Venus Star Academic Primary School, which had 89.1%. JCC Hai Negil came third, with 87.6%.

Regional Performance

Juba County led regionally, achieving a 95.5% pass rate, while Lainya County followed closely at 91.3%. Students excelled in core subjects like Mathematics, English, and Sciences, all scoring above 94%. However, Islamic Religion recorded the lowest pass rate (82.4%), signaling a potential area for improvement.

Gender Equity in Education

Male candidates slightly edged out females (94.7% to 94.4%), a marginal 0.3% gap—a notable shift toward gender equity in education outcomes. This year’s results reflect a consistent upward trend, with pass rates climbing from 90.8% in 2021 to 94.5% in 2024.

School Bounces Back in Western Equatoria

Meanwhile, in Western Equatoria State, Tombura County had a remarkable performance in the Primary 8 examination results, with every registered pupil passing despite the ongoing insecurity in the area. The state minister for General Education and Instructions, Grace Apollo Musa, attributed the improvement to increased commitment from teachers, students, and parents.

Notable Improvements

Out of 4,435 pupils who sat for the exams across the state, 3,997 passed (1,793 girls and 2,204 boys) while only 368 failed. 77 failed to turn up for the exams. Another striking highlight came from Nzara County, where schools such as ECSS Nzara, St. Timothy’s, and St. Daniel Comboni all recorded 100% pass rates after no candidate passed the Primary 8 examination last year.

Top-Performing Schools in Western Equatoria

Top-performing schools in the state included Ezra Baya in Mundri West County with 118 pupils all passing, St. Mary’s in Yambio (105), and Mundri Adventist (85). Other strong performers from Yambio include Gracia Nursery and Primary (84), Alpha and Omega (51), and Bright Star (61), each recording a 100% pass rate.

Conclusion

The significant improvement in the pass rates of the South Sudan Primary Certificate Examinations in both Central Equatoria and Western Equatoria states is a testament to the hard work and dedication of students, teachers, and stakeholders. As the education sector continues to evolve, it is essential to address areas of improvement, such as the performance in Islamic Religion and the need to bolster performance in rural counties and government schools. With continued support and commitment, the future of education in South Sudan looks promising.

Concerns Over New Curriculum

Mathematics academics at the University of Juba have expressed concern over a series of errors and technical mistakes in the newly unified South Sudan General Education Curriculum (SSGEC). The academics from the department of mathematics, School of Education at the University of Juba, believe that the new syllabus, especially the Primary 8 Mathematics textbook, contains numerous mistakes and is not fit for use without revision.

Errors in the Syllabus

According to mathematics experts Helicopter Mark Bulbul, William Deng Tap, and Biar Simon Ajang, the Primary 8 Mathematics textbook has at least eight mathematics content errors, particularly in Algebra in unit 4. The experts pointed out that page 65 of the textbook contains these errors, which could affect the professional future of South Sudanese students. The experts embarked on research in July 2022 after receiving complaints from Primary 8 pupils about serious textbook errors, especially in mathematics.

Impact on Students

The identified mistakes in the syllabus are a concern for the experts, who believe that students are being fed wrong content that will affect their future. The experts are worried that the curriculum was wrongly designed or presented, and serious mistakes should be blamed on subject matter expertise and the Ministry of General Education. The discovered errors could be due to typos, carelessness, or pure incompetence, or a combination of all these scenarios.

Causes of the Errors

The experts maintained that when the background or base is not strong, it means that wrong content is being given to students. These errors point to an apparent lack of competence or professionalism on the part of the hired content-subject matter experts (SME) who were likely hand-picked by the ministry to prepare the content of the subject. The experts are also afraid that the textbooks might have been developed from somewhere, rather than being designed specifically for the South Sudan education system.

Solution to the Problem

To remedy the situation, the experts suggested that the new curriculum be revised, and errors be erased to meet global standard syllabuses. They recommend that all new SSGEC textbooks be updated to acceptable world-class standards to minimize the existence of such embarrassing errors. The experts believe that the new curriculum textbooks should be put under a similar process of continuous reviews, regular revisions, and renovations, as is often the case with other world-class peer-reviewed publications.

Call to Action

The trio of mathematics specialists urged the national government to avail funds to allow national experts to thoroughly review all textbooks and amend the mistakes. They believe that this will help maintain the quality of the new SSGEC curriculum textbooks and ensure that students receive accurate and reliable information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the errors in the newly unified South Sudan General Education Curriculum (SSGEC) are a concern for mathematics academics at the University of Juba. The experts believe that the mistakes in the Primary 8 Mathematics textbook could affect the professional future of South Sudanese students and are calling for a revision of the curriculum to meet global standard syllabuses. The government should take immediate action to address the issue and ensure that students receive quality education. By revising the curriculum and erasing errors, South Sudan can provide its students with a strong foundation for their future careers and contribute to the development of the country.