My second plan was to come back to Juba and cast my separation vote. I did…I was happy. I fully had now recognized why many of my age mates, colleagues in the Red Army, had to die so young. I also understood why some of my uncles became old without wives and children.
NHIAL MAJUR
ColumnistIt all started last year during the Southern Sudan Referendum Voters registration exercise that I lost track of a basic thing in my life: Planning.
I cannot plan beyond a week because all my plans and activities were and still affected by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the University of Bahr el Ghazal Administration.
First, because of my patriotism and national duty, I had to miss some lectures last year for a week just to come and register in Juba. I was registered, and it was my duty to vote. So I voted. The January 9 vote saw us become a nation on July 9. Afterward, I was supposedly going back to the University as from April 15 2011. That did not happen. Then we were told the universities would reopen after the celebration of the Independence of South Sudan. Now we are told another version of the story. The University will open in the middle of August. I have lost hope. I am becoming a pessimist as regards South Sudanese universities.
What were the plans I had for the year 2011?
First on my list was to go to the village, visit my people and spend some time with them. I did and I had a wonderful time chilling with my people. I helped some of them to understand the meaning of ‘Separation’, to understand how separation would change their livelihood. I know they are patiently for their lifestyle to change.
Second was to come back to Juba and cast my separation vote. I did. The results were announced. I joined my people in the celebration of the overwhelming vote for separation. I was happy. I fully had now recognized why many of my age mates, colleagues in the Red Army, had to die so young. I also understood why some of my uncles became old without wives and children. It was as if our Secondary School Motto (We Shall Overcome Someday) had finally come true.
Third was for me to go back to the University as a first class citizen, studying in a first class University. I wanted to go back this time as a Republic of South Sudan (RSS) National Student not as a Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) sponsored student. I wanted to finish my Bachelors degree in Education and turn around the tale of illiteracy into one of literacy; though, even I know, one man cannot educate all. Those were the plans I had.
How is the Ministry not making me plan my activities?
To begin with, I have been on standby, waiting for the University to start. Thus, I have not been able to start any program or project because I might be called upon by the university to resume studies.
In addition, the Ministry and the University Administration have been playing hide-and-seek in front of us, the students. I am now in Juba looking for a job and no one can give me a job just because, employers say, the university could reopen anytime. I don’t blame them.
Where is the Planning Dilemma?
Nevertheless, this is not the first time I face this dilemma.
Oftentimes, the University and the Ministry (I’m not sure who is to blame) don’t allow the students of the National Universities to plan their time because the academic calendar is so messed up to the extent that the Academic-year break is longer than the academic year itself. Other universities are opened while others are still waiting for a budget, lecturers, or hostels to be constructed.
Please, would some honorable person (MP) in the National Assembly of the Republic of South Sudan address the issue of the National Universities that are not opened up to now? Can our honorable MPs bring whoever is responsible – I repeat, I am not sure whether it is the ministry or the Universities Administrations — to a table so that they can relieve us from this long wait?
**A friend of mine, who asked me about when I was going back to School, inspired this column. Noblest Nhial, the columnist, is a student of Education in Arts (English Language and Literature) University of Bahr el Ghazal ( HYPERLINK “mailto:noblest.nhial@gmail.com” noblest.nhial@gmail.com)
