As primary (8) and senior four begins their final examinations on the 24 November, (S4) on the 1 December  the Message, cheating in the examination room is unacceptable. Work hard for your future and know that your performance alone determines your next step toward becoming one of this country’s best leaders. The Senior Four certificate is the start of your career. Read every question with understanding before answering, and do not let panic or ‘examination fever’ sabotage your effort.

The government of the Republic of South Sudan’s sometime back warned Senior Four candidates against academic malpractice, an issue rightly highlighted during the launching of the first ringing of the examination bell. Students must focus on performing well and achieving better results through their own effort.

However, academic malpractice in South Sudan is a systemic crisis that extends far beyond the student body. It becomes a deeply challenging issue when leaders and elders compromise the integrity of the system by buying results for their children who failed their exams, often to win international scholarships.

This practice undermines the entire education system and hurts our nation’s reputation. Students who proceed on these undeserved scholarships often fail in their further studies abroad because their foundational knowledge is missing. The country cannot afford to give preferential results to the children of ministers and generals simply to secure scholarships. The reputation of South Sudan rests on the genuine success of its scholars, not on fraudulent academic achievements.

Its serious case involved students from one community who were related to influential individuals and won scholarships in a state with nothing being done about it. This is a clear indicator of the gravity of the malpractice problem within even the Ministry of Higher Education and among our leaders.

This widespread academic malpractice is a symptom of deeper systemic failures, including: uncovered syllabi, the failure of teachers to impart sufficient knowledge to students, and the alarming leakage of examinations to specific individuals or schools.

The underlying weakness in the examination system is closely tied to the neglect of our educators. Teachers across South Sudan are rightfully claiming their unpaid salaries, a crisis that has become an issue almost to all teachers. When the Ministry of Education fails to address teacher welfare, leaving them hungry and unable to feed their families, the entire system’s integrity is compromised.

Our country still needs serious efforts to establish a better education system. This shall happen only if our leaders put their hearts together, commit to peace implementation, and bring people with a genuine focus on Education into positions of power, rather than only corrupt politicians.

I appeal to all students to do their best in your final certificate exams and continue with further studies. You are the future leaders of South Sudan, and all eyes are on you to support and represent the country worldwide. The future of our nation is education, and through education, our country will prosper.

I want to wish you the best of luck and believe that you will pass with flying colours. I appreciate the National Minister of Education and the entire team in the education sector for their work in making this examination possible and for affirming that Education is the only way to success in the world.

God protect South Sudan.

Be the spectator!