By Matik Kueth
At least more than 1,100 students are expected to sit for this year’s Sudanese Certificate (S.3) examinations in Juba, as authorities finalized plans to centralize the process in the South Sudanese capital.
In an interview with King Media on Tuesday, Sudanese diplomat Yahia Mohammed Osman confirmed that all candidates will sit their exams at a single main venue to ensure coordination and proper supervision.
“God willing, the exams will be held in one center that will gather all students, more than 1100 students, at the Block Center in Juba School,” Osman said.
He explained that although multiple institutions have been involved in preparations, including Al-Ahlam School and Al-Sadaqa School, the final arrangement will consolidate students into one central examination hub.
Another facility will also be prepared to accommodate candidates coming from outside Juba.
The move comes as part of long-standing coordination between Sudanese education authorities and their counterparts in South Sudan.
Osman emphasized that the process is not new, noting that similar arrangements have been in place for years.
“This has been the case for years, not just recently. Therefore, we are completely confident that all arrangements and preparations will be completed,” he added.
According to the diplomat, no examination centers will be established outside Juba this year, making the capital the sole destination for all candidates across the country.
“Regarding the centers, there are no centers outside of Juba. There are only two centers, according to those who are qualified and have been approved,” he clarified.
The centralized arrangement has forced hundreds of students from distant regions to travel long distances to sit for the exams.
Osman revealed that at least 350 students have already arrived from areas including Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Western Bahr el Ghazal.
“They endured hardships and difficulties until they reached Juba. The number is currently 350 students,” he said.
To support these candidates, authorities have arranged accommodation in designated dormitories within the city.
“They will be hosted in the dormitory, accredited by the Industrial School in the Al-Qulub neighborhood,” Osman noted.
He further highlighted ongoing coordination efforts involving government institutions and diplomatic channels to facilitate students’ movement and documentation.
“The issue for many students is to present their identification documents to support them with directives from the Vice President, in the field of facilitating their arrival and coordinating between the relevant judiciary, Sudan, the embassy, and the school,” he said.
Despite the logistical challenges, officials remain optimistic that the large number of candidates will be successfully accommodated and that the examinations will proceed as planned in Juba.