By Sabri Dibaco
The Caretaker Minister of Education in Western Equatoria State, Patrick Thomas Ruruyo, has called on education partners, parents, and communities to support the Examination Readiness Initiative aimed at improving students’ performance in national examinations.
Speaking to No. 1 Citizen Newspaper on a phone call, Patrick Thomas Ruruyo said the initiative seeks to prepare examination candidates through seminars and targeted academic support, helping learners understand examination questions, manage their time, and identify areas that require more attention during revision.
He said insecurity in parts of the state was also contributing to poor academic performance because many learners lacked a peaceful and conducive environment for studying.
According to the minister, conflict has affected several areas, including Mundri, Tambura, and Nagero, disrupting learning and making it difficult for some students to prepare adequately for their examinations.
He called on stakeholders to work together to address the challenges facing education, emphasising that communities and parents have an important role to play in supporting learners.
The Examination Readiness Initiative is being introduced as a pilot program in Yambio County, with plans to expand it to all ten counties of Western Equatoria State if the approach proves successful.
The program focuses on intensive coaching for learners and supporting teachers to guide students in examination preparation, time management, and targeted reading.
The minister has also sought support from education partners for learning materials, including pamphlets that could help candidates prepare for examinations. Such materials could potentially benefit learners beyond the areas initially covered by the initiative.
Meanwhile, a parent in Yambio town, Mary Juma, has welcomed the initiative but urged the Ministry of Education to reduce the fees charged to students attending the seminars.
Mary said the program could help candidates improve their preparation and gain a better understanding of how to approach national examinations.
“The initiative is good because it can help our children learn and understand how to approach the examinations,” Mary said.
However, she expressed concern that the reported fee of 5,000 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per student every Saturday could prevent many learners from participating.
“Many students and parents cannot afford to pay 5,000 SSP every Saturday to attend the seminar,” she said.
Mary appealed to the ministry to consider reducing the charges or introducing arrangements that would allow children from low-income families to benefit from the program.
She said making the seminars more affordable would give more examination candidates an opportunity to access the additional academic support they need.
The concerns highlight the challenge of balancing the need for additional examination preparation with the financial difficulties faced by families.
As the initiative progresses, its reach and effectiveness will depend partly on community participation, support from education partners, and the ability of students from different economic backgrounds to access the seminars.
The proposed expansion to other counties could also help extend examination preparation support to learners in areas affected by insecurity and limited educational resources.