Dr. Kuyok Abol Kuyok : The Indispensable Leader for South Sudan's Ministry of General Education and Instruction

Your Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan,

We address you with profound respect for the principles in your leadership that allow citizens to observe and advocate for the effective stewardship for public institutions. While we acknowledge the symbolic significance of some people who might be interested in the job, we wish to present a perspective rooted in the tangible, transformative achievements realized under the current leadership of the Ministery of General Education& Instruction. The incumbent’s record of service, institutional mastery, and proven delivery stands as unparalleled assets to this crucial sector.

The current Minister assumed leadership of an education sector mired in systemic dysfunction. Unlike predecessors who required extended periods to acclimatize, he arrived with decades of accumulated expertise in public administration and education policy. This foundation enabled immediate, decisive action rather than prolonged familiarization—an invaluable advantage South Sudan cannot afford to relinquish during this critical phase of national recovery and institutional rebuilding.

Under his stewardship, the Ministry has achieved verifiable outcomes surpassing those of all previous administrations combined. For the first time in our nation’s history, national examinations now proceed with uncompromised integrity through the systematic dismantling of cheating networks (the famous Machot), digitalization of result processing, and strict accountability measures that have restored public faith in academic credentials. The chronic delays that once left students waiting months for results have been addressed, with results now released in a timely manner—a logistical achievement that had long eluded the sector.

Furthermore, the sector has transitioned from unpredictability to structured framework, with clear academic timelines consistently upheld, enabling schools, teachers, and families to plan with confidence.

In terms of Infrastructure, the current leadership has overseen the succussful completion of many critical projects including the rehabilitation of numerous schools through transparent procurement processes and coordinated engagement with development partners. While challenges like salary delays are systemic issues beyond any single ministry's sole control, the Minister and his team have worked diligently to alleviate many pressing concerns facing education sector. Teachers welfare has seen substantial improvements, with training programmes revitalized, and professional certification efforts now placed on a sustainable, institutional footing.

It is therefore important to note that meaningful reform in education demands more than symbolic appointments. It requires sustained, uninterrupted leadership to consolidate gains and deepen systemic transformation.While the philanthropic record of some individuals who might be interested in the position is commendable, does not necesassrily demonstrate the executive capacity to manage a nationwide ministry, coordinate with ten state education authorities, negotiate with international/ implementing partners, and implement policy at scale. The current Minister has proven himself capable not only of vision but of translating that vision into measurable delivery through technical competence and political will. To remove such leadership at the peak of its effectiveness would jeopardize the very transformation South Sudanese families are beginning to experience.

Your Excellency, we do not question integrity or symbolic significance of any potential candidate. However, national development cannot rest on symbolism alone. At this pivotal moment, the Ministry of Education requires a leader with proven executive performance, institutional command, and a demonstrable record of solving problems—not merely identifying them.

We respectfully urge Your Excellency to keep the incumbent Minister of Education, whose tenure has already redefined what is possible within South Sudan’s education sector. Permitting him to complete his ongoing initiatives would affirm that competence, results, and experience remain the foundation of your administration’s vision for South Sudan.

Submitted with patriotic honour,
Dr. Geng Geng, MBBS.
Dr. Thiep Mayuot Deng, MBBS, MPH
Ustaz Kharubino Kuot, PhD candidate, Nkumba University.

We write as concerned citizens and keen Observers of the work of the Ministry of General Education & Instructions.