JUBA, 5th August, 2011[Gurtong]-South Sudan has opened 28 examinations centres to administer this year’s South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education examinations, Mr. Simon Nyok Deng, the Acting Secretary for Secondary School Examinations said yesterday in Juba.

Deng explained that various schools have been implementing the South Sudan Secondary School curriculum which was launched by President Kiir in 2007. He said that the levels of implementation vary from State to State with Eastern Equatoria leading the other States.

“Of the 28 centres opened, 14 are in Eastern Equatoria while the rest are shared between Central and Western Equatoria, Lakes and Jonglei States. The other 5 States are yet to present candidates for examination under the new curriculum,” he said.

He reported that the South Sudan Examinations Act has centralized the administration of all examinations in the Republic of South Sudan. Initially, each State administered its own examinations.

Relevant institutions are now working to constitute the national examinations council which will administer all national examinations.

Deng clarified that the Sudan Certificate of Education examination will still be taken by some schools which are using the curriculum but added that it will be phased out gradually. The Uganda Certificate of Education examinations are also administered in some schools in South Sudan. He expressed confidence that South Sudan’s own examinations will be offered in all the public schools in about two years.

Mr. Sebit John Mark, the Subject Secretary for Maths and Physics examinations exclusively explained that the secretariat moderates all examinations administered by the States to ensure compliance with the national standards and quality.

South Sudan is fighting to minimize illiteracy rate in the country which is still worrying and expected to take a long way. Last month, the Minister of General Education reported that 73% of the population is still illiterate.