Sudanese Learners Seek Safety in Ruweng
More than 5,000 learners have crossed into South Sudan’s Ruweng Administrative Area after days on the road, seeking the stability needed to sit the South Sudan Certificate of Primary Education scheduled for tomorrow, officials told state broadcaster SSBC.
The contingent hails largely from the Nuba Mountains in Sudan’s South Kordofan State, a region unsettled since hostilities erupted in 2023, disrupting schooling calendars and forcing families to look south for continuity.
Secondary Candidates Follow Close Behind
Alongside the primary candidates travel secondary school students who intend to sit the national certificate examinations slated for 1 December, marking a second academic lifeline away from the conflict lines.
Local Logistics and Security Measures
Ruweng authorities say accommodation and invigilation rooms are ready, with security teams coordinating safe corridors in cooperation with humanitarian actors.
National Exam Rollout for 2025 Cohort
Nation-wide, the Ministry of General Education and Instruction projects 84,814 pupils will open the same papers on 24 November 2025, an increase of 15,535 candidates over last year.
Gender distribution, ministry data show, stands at 45,545 boys and 39,269 girls across 551 centres, reflecting both demographic growth and the push to keep learning spaces open despite the regional turbulence.
Technical and Commercial Tracks Included
Technical streams also feature, with 120 candidates sitting specialised tests and another 30 registered for commercial subjects, mirroring the diversified education portfolio South Sudan is attempting to nurture.
Officials Call Education a Fundamental Right
Speaking on SSBC, education director James Chol said, “Our doors remain open to every child affected by conflict. The examination is a right, not a privilege.”
Cross-Border Solidarity Remains Strong
Observers note that welcoming Sudanese pupils also cements cross-border ties that long predate the current political crisis, reinforcing a tradition of mutual support between communities separated only by a porous frontier.
For Pupils, Hope Rises Above Conflict
For many youngsters from the Nuba Mountains, this week’s exam is more than a test; it is proof that education can outpace artillery, at least for a few crucial hours.