Sudden Passing of Prof. Job Dharuai
Former Minister of Education, Science and Technology Prof. Job Dharuai Malou Deng died in Juba at 7:11 a.m. Sunday after a brief illness. He was 71, according to family sources.
The respected educator had spent two months in Gudele Hospital’s intensive care unit, recovering from abdominal surgery that ultimately proved unsuccessful, his son Achuil confirmed in an interview.
Architect of South Sudan’s “Go to School” Drive
Appointed under the then semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan, Dharuai championed access to basic education, reshaping teacher training colleges and instilling strict professional ethics.
His flagship “Go to School” campaign is credited with bringing millions of children into classrooms for the first time, a milestone frequently cited by UNICEF officials.
Guardian of Dinka Literary Heritage
Beyond policy work, Dharuai published dictionaries, poetry, and grammar guides that strengthened the written form of Dinka, one of South Sudan’s largest languages.
Linguist Aluel Bior remembers him saying, “A language survives only if it breathes in books,” a line now circulating widely on social media tributes.
Community Reactions and National Mourning
Condolences poured in from teachers’ unions, authors’ guilds, and cabinet members, each highlighting his patience, humour, and relentless optimism during the formative years preceding independence in 2011.
President Salva Kiir’s office praised Dharuai’s “enduring imprint on the nation’s conscience,” while civil society groups urged policymakers to sustain his reforms.
Final Journey to Lakes State
The family plans to transport his body to Yirol East County in Lakes State, where an official burial is scheduled for next week.
Community elders are preparing traditional rites, and the Ministry of General Education has announced a week of mourning in schools nationwide.
Enduring Influence on Future Classrooms
Education analysts argue that South Sudan’s current literacy gains stem from foundations he laid; textbooks he commissioned remain standard in rural classrooms.
As the nation reflects, many believe the most fitting tribute will be a renewed commitment to inclusive, well-funded schooling for every child.