By Juma John Stephen
JUBA, 10 June (Gurtong) – The Undersecretary for Higher and Tertiary Education in the Government of Southern Sudan’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Atem Kuir told Gurtong in his office last week that the money would soon be channeled to the various banks in the respective countries where South Sudanese students are studying.
“From next week we will send the money through the Bank of Southern Sudan to banks in Uganda and Kenya. Students have their own bank accounts in these countries from where they will receive the money”, Kuir said.
The estimated number of South Sudanese students in Uganda is over 2, 000 with over 1,000 in Kenya as well as over 3,000 in the Diaspora.
In the past years, money sent to the students has been misappropriated leading to a massive demonstration in Uganda last year.
Kuir called for a serious follow up of the case where 3.5 million United States Dollars was embezzled.
“We are also forming teams that will go and verify whether the money has reached the students as intended or not. The team will include the Southern Sudan Anti Corruption Commission which will ensure the money is transferred as designed without any hitches”, he said.
Just as our interview progressed, the Undersecretary received a telephone call from the Ugandan education coordinator who informed him that the cash had been well-received and will be disbursed to the respective students.
However, Kuir said, starting this year, no student will be offered any financial support by the Government of Southern Sudan following a new initiative to encourage South Sudanese students to study in local universities.
“The Ministry will however continue supporting students who enrolled between 2006 and 2009 until they complete their studies”, he said.
South Sudanese universities and the government have also started cutting down on some areas of support including transport, in a bid to encourage parents to independently support their children’s education.