The Star Post

South Sudan’s education minister, Kuyok Abol Kuyok, stated that the declining academic standards among top-performing students is a growing national issue.

Kuyok informed UN Radio Miraya FM on Thursday that good number of students who graduate from secondary school with high grades are struggling to manage first-year university coursework, especially in engineering and medicine.

Kuyok, a lecturer at the University of Juba, characterized the situation as concerning and indicated that it highlights underlying issues within the secondary school system.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit urged cabinet ministers from the Greater Upper Nile region to actively engage with the public to promote peace and stability.

Kiir made this call during a meeting with a section of Cabinet Ministers representing Upper Nile Region.

Kiir stated that regular visits by senior officials to their regions would help build public trust, promote the spread of peace messages, and enhance stability in the counties, Payams, Bomas, and villages.

Speaking to the Press following the meeting, the Minister of Roads and Bridges Peter Lam Both said they are prepared to go home and engage the locals on peace and development programs.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has resigned for health reasons, according to the presidential spokesperson. His departure comes amid a sharp rise in mass kidnappings, including a church attack in Kogi state where a pastor and several worshipers were abducted, and the kidnapping of about 30 women—among them a bride and wedding guests—in Sakoko. Around 490 people have been kidnapped across several states in the past two weeks. Former Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa is reportedly set to replace Abubakar.

‎Breaking News:
‎
‎President Salva Kiir Mayardit fired Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel as Vice President for Economic Cluster, as First Deputy Chairman of the SPLM, and dismissed him from National Security, demoting him from General to private.
‎
‎In separate decree, Kiir has sacked Simon Akuei as Commissioner General of South Sudan Revenue Authority and replaced with William Anyuon Kuol.