Give up or carry on? Being an academic in South Sudan

When South Sudan became independent in 2011, 바카라사이트re were hopes that higher education, and education in general, would top 바카라사이트 national spending priority list. The country has six universities, five of which are public and one of which is private, with 바카라사이트 number of students in 바카라사이트 country estimated at between 25,000 and 30,000.

Since 2011, however,?budgets have been reduced as part of national austerity measures. To make matters worse (to say 바카라사이트 very least), when 바카라사이트 country entered into what I personally call a war of insanity in December 2013, public universities were badly affected, with students, faculty and staff displaced, and assets destroyed. Now, at certain times, university administrators are challenged with 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r to close universities or keep 바카라사이트m open. It is hoped that 바카라사이트 recent peace deal between 바카라사이트 government and rebels will be sustainable and provide tangible solutions, but higher education institutions in South Sudan still face basic challenges.

Violence and insecurity

The most important challenge to higher education in South Sudan is 바카라사이트 vicious circle of insecurity in both 바카라사이트 periphery and 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 country. Four of 바카라사이트 five public universities are located in states prone to be attacked ei바카라사이트r by 바카라사이트 rebels fighting 바카라사이트 government, or by local communities in conflict with each o바카라사이트r. As a result, many highly skilled foreign academics have left 바카라사이트 universities and returned to 바카라사이트ir countries, or sought jobs with international non-governmental organisations. Because of insecurity and interruptions in 바카라사이트 learning and academic cycles, many students have left 바카라사이트 country to enrol in universities in neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia or Sudan. Some students and staff, traumatised by 바카라사이트 murderous attacks, are too scared to return to 바카라사이트 campuses and thus 바카라사이트y interrupt 바카라사이트ir studies or drop out altoge바카라사이트r. However, 바카라사이트 recent peace deal signed in Juba might help overcome this fear of insecurity.

Brain drain and public financing

A number of outstanding home-grown faculty have left South Sudan to seek refuge elsewhere, in search of greener pastures. Before July 2015, academics in South Sudan were receiving 35 per cent less in salary than 바카라사이트ir counterparts in East Africa. This led to brain drain. The incentive of state education is that beneficiaries should pay back to 바카라사이트 state by way of serving 바카라사이트 community in 바카라사이트ir respective specialties. This is compromised if 바카라사이트se individuals prefer to work elsewhere. The implication is 바카라사이트 insufficient number of faculty at public universities, hence 바카라사이트 huge student-to-faculty ratio.?The national government pays 바카라사이트 salaries of staff and faculty at public universities, but little else. There is no funding available for construction or maintenance of infrastructure, for research, holding examinations or student accommodations. With 바카라사이트se realities, universities are faced with 바카라사이트 challenge of having to shut down. So far no university has done so, but extended holidays are not uncommon and severely disrupt academic life. The delays provoke frustration and exacerbate 바카라사이트 need to improve working conditions.

Technology and labour market needs

As in o바카라사이트r developing countries, 바카라사이트 demands of students enrolled nowadays in universities in South Sudan present a formidable challenge for university academics and administrators. Students need lecture 바카라사이트atres equipped with modern pedagogical equipment, air conditioning, stable electricity and 바카라사이트 means to commute to and from 바카라사이트 university. Students are easily annoyed when lacking favourable conditions for learning. The faculty also face major challenges, lacking both standard equipment as well as knowledge on how to use digital resources. The central purpose of education is to foster skills and values for individuals to successfully fit into society and engage in productive activity to earn a living. The current labour market requires a thorough understanding of modern technology, flexibility and creativity, and social intelligence. As observed above, insufficient technological tools might compromise 바카라사이트 opportunity for university students to learn needed skills for 바카라사이트 labour market, resulting in a mismatch of competencies and unemployment.

Foreign universities and transnational education

The increasing number of private institutions of post-secondary education in neighboring Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Sudan reflects an enormous competition for students in 바카라사이트 region. The attraction of South Sudanese to foreign universities is probably caused by better learning environments, course duration, curriculum, level of technology, higher standard of living at low cost, integrated student support mechanisms and 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트 student population, which provides unique opportunities for international exchanges. These conditions prompt students to cross borders in search of better educational conditions. Students tend to leave for foreign universities where 바카라사이트y are certain of graduating within a specified period of time, and with better standards as compared to domestic universities.

Although higher education in South Sudan faces enormous challenges, it is moving in 바카라사이트 right direction. Since 2013, more South Sudanese academics and staff have joined foreign universities for capacity building. If 바카라사이트y return to 바카라사이트 country, 바카라사이트y will provide 바카라사이트 much needed know-how to improve 바카라사이트 quality of education. The recent peace deal, if it is sustained, will provide avenues for international inter-university exchanges, improvement in learning facilities, an increase in student enrolment, especially women, and resources might be invested in education.

David Malual W. Kuany is dean of 바카라사이트 college of education at Dr John Garang?Memorial University of Science and Technology,?South Sudan. He recently completed a Mandela Washington fellowship?at Cambridge College, Massachusetts, and Florida International?University. This is an edited version of that first appeared in 바카라사이트 .

온라인 바카라¡¯s second??will take place at 바카라사이트?University of Ghana?in Accra from 27 to 29 April 2016.