Pibor learners to miss exams over insecurity
An unspecified number of pupils in some parts of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area risk missing the nationwide Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) due to the conflicts that have gripped the area recently.
Pibor Minister of Information, Jay Adangor, told The City Review that inaccessibility occasioned by the recent security threat is the major impediment to the exercise that has locked out Gumuruk and Lekuangole counties.
“Candidates are ready, and they will take their examinations in Pibor, Puchalla, and Jebel Boma. But due to lack of accessibility, places such as Gumuruk and Lekuangole are not going to take part in the examination, “Adangor said.
“Another main reason is the insecurity. People are fearing the rumour of imminent attack from their neighbours,” he said.
Pibor and Jonglei State have been experiencing unprecedented waves of clashes in recent weeks with youths of both regions trading accusations about recent attacks that have resulted in thousands of displacements and dozens of deaths.
More atrocities
An unspecified number of children and women have also been kidnapped and their whereabouts remain unknown in the Jonglei-Piper intercommunal fights.
According to Adangor, the two counties could not be accessed by land due to a lack of roads connecting the areas with the Pibor Administrative Area capital. He called on the national government and humanitarian agencies to construct roads in the region to prevent a future similar occurrence.
“Our problem is lack of road infrastructure. There is no road between Pibor and Gumuruk or Lekuangole. We appeal to the national government to prioritise road projects in the area to deescalate tension in Greater Pibor Administrative Area,”
Besides, the two areas have also been severely affected by the recent flooding that hampered the access to scarce learning facilities, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Mr Adangor.
South Sudan will be expected to conduct nationwide national examinations with thousands of pupils expected to take part in the examinations beginning February 14. This is based on the recent announcement by the National Ministry of General Education and Instruction.
Last year, hundreds of students missed examinations in some parts of the country including in Warrap State and part of greater Upper Nile State.
