War of words erupts over school land deals

JUBA – Transparency concerns cloud the education sector in South Sudan as the national Ministry of General Education and Instructions (MoGEI) clashes with the Central Equatoria State (CES) Ministry of Education over the fate of public school land.

The controversy ignited during an Eid al-Adha visit by National Education Minister Awut Deng Acuil. Ms. Acuil discovered a portion of Supiri Secondary School land allocated to investors, prompting her to declare, “My ministry is going to take legal action against the minister.”

Central Equatoria’s Education Minister Cirisio Zakaria Lado vehemently denied the accusations. In a June 21^st press release, he asserted, “There was no, any school land sold or lease to business person, private companies or individuals.”

Minister Lado claimed a government committee found no evidence to support the allegations.

However, MoGEI Acting Undersecretary David Lowela Ladu challenged Minister Lado’s claims. Ladu revealed MoGEI possesses documents proving school land sales or leases, but refrained from disclosing details on the number of schools involved or the identities of those involved in the transactions.

“There are documents that indicate that some school land had been sold or leased,” Ladu insisted.

Adding fuel to the fire, Ladu revealed thirteen schools, including prominent institutions like Juba Commercial Secondary School and Juba Day Primary School, are slated for “investment projects.”

This raises concerns about the potential impact on educational facilities and student access to resources.

The dispute unfolds against the backdrop of a May 29th Council of Ministers memo explicitly prohibiting state authorities from selling or leasing public land. The memo, citing legal action for violations, underscores the national government’s stance on the matter.

Clause d of the memo clearly states the prohibition: “state and local authorities in the Republic of South Sudan from selling or leasing public lands and subjecting them to the full force of the law for any violation.”

The memo empowers MoGEI to reclaim public school land and demolish any illegally constructed buildings.

With both sides presenting conflicting narratives, South Sudan’s education sector faces uncertainty. Only time will tell how this land dispute will be resolved and whether transparency and accountability will prevail.