Over 50,000 Candidates Affected by Six Month National Exam Results Hold Up

(Juba) – Secondary school graduates across South Sudan are raising concerns over the prolonged delay in the release of their 2024 national examination results, more than six months after they sat for their final papers.

Over 50,000 candidates sat for the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) examinations in December last year at 319 centers across the country. As of late June 2025, the Ministry of General Education has not released the results, leaving students uncertain about their next steps.

Several students spoke to media, sharing the emotional and academic pressure caused by the delay. Among them was Ayen Bek, a student who said the wait has disrupted the lives of many candidates, particularly girls.

“Not all of us are going to pass; some will fail. But how does the government plan to help those who need to repeat? How will they catch up with lessons?” she asked.

Another candidate, Jimmy Duol, described the situation as “burning” and “painful.” He said the delay has already cost him a year of potential higher education.

“It needs to change. Students who sat for exams last year in other countries are now in university. But here in South Sudan, we are still waiting at home,” Duol said. “It’s painful. Some have already lost interest in education. The government must improve not just the timing of releasing results, but the entire education system.”

Emmanuel Alafi, also awaiting results, urged the Ministry of General Education to communicate with students and explain the reasons for the delay. “We feel abandoned. If the results were out, we would be moving forward. Our hopes are fading,” Alafi said. “We need clear answers. The government must address this problem and invest in the system.”

Students say the delay is affecting their ability to apply for universities both within South Sudan and abroad. Some worry they will miss scholarship deadlines or fall behind their international peers.

When contacted by a local media house, General Education Minister Dr. Kuyok Abol Kuyok did not respond to multiple phone calls. Other ministry officials, including the Executive Director of the National Examination Council, also declined to speak.

In early 2025, the Ministry of General Education confirmed it had only received 2 billion South Sudanese Pounds (SSP), approximately $433,000 USD at the official exchange rate of SSP 4,619.26 to the US Dollar, to mark both primary and secondary school exams.

This represented just 28% of the total funding requested from the Ministry of Finance, further indicating that financial constraints may have contributed to the delay.

Education advocates argue that unless South Sudan addresses systemic problems, including chronic underfunding, weak infrastructure, and communication gaps, the situation is unlikely to improve.

Students now face a second half of the year without clear direction, while hopes for timely university admission continue to fade.