By Sabri Dibaco
The Minister of General Education and Instructions in Western Equatoria State has launched an Examination Readiness Initiative aimed at improving students’ performance in national examinations through intensive coaching, targeted revision and support for teachers.
The initiative is being introduced in response to challenges affecting the quality of education in the state, including inadequate preparation among learners, Poor results and a shortage of adequately qualified teachers.
Speaking to No.1 Citizen Newspaper in an interview, the state Minister of Education, Patrick Thomas Ruruyo, said the programme will initially operate as a pilot project in Yambio County to assess its effectiveness before a possible expansion to all ten counties of Western Equatoria State.
“The initiative has two main components. The first focuses on providing technical academic support to learners through intensive coaching, helping them understand examination questions, manage their time effectively and concentrate on subjects and topics where they have weaknesses,” Ruruyo said.
He also said the second component is for his initiative are teachers.
“The second component targets teachers, equipping them with approaches to help students prepare for examinations, conduct focused revision and develop the discipline and commitment required for academic success,” Ruruyo outlined.
Patrick Thomas Ruruyo said this program will expand to the ten counties in the state, so that it can help improve the results and performance of learners in the state.
The minister said the initiative is based on the belief that structured preparation and targeted coaching can improve learners’ performance in national examinations, as for the past years the state has not been doing well in the national exams.
The programme is expected to help students understand how to approach examination questions, allocate their time appropriately and identify priority areas during revision.
The minister said students in conflict-affected areas like Tambura and Nagero counties may not benefit from this initiative this year, as it’s a pilot project and it is very difficult to access those areas, and the time is very short before the examination period
“Learners in those areas would not benefit immediately because the programme is starting as a pilot project, and the initiative could be expanded to cover all ten counties in the following year if the pilot proves successful,” Riruyo stated.
The proposed expansion would allow more schools and learners across Western Equatoria State to access examination preparation support, although implementation would depend on the results of the pilot phase and subsequent planning.
The initiative comes at a time when education remains an important concern for communities across the state, particularly in areas where insecurity and other challenges may disrupt learning and limit students’ access to adequate educational support.
The success of the programme will depend on its implementation, the participation of teachers and learners, and whether plans can eventually be extended to students in underserved and conflict-affected areas.