Minister Orders Closure Of 21 Private Universities

This article was last updated on May 21, 2022

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The institutions ordered to shut down with immediate effect are; 
1. Supiri Institute of Management and Information Technology.
2. Cambridge International College
3. The Bridge University
4. Nile Institute of Technology 
5. Hippo Engineering Institute
6. Southern University (Institute of management).
7. Juba International University College (Institute of Commerce and Management). 
8. African Population Institute
9. Agape Christian University of Technology
10. International Liberty University
11. New Generation University
12. Nile University
13. Southern Sudan Christian University of Science and Technology
14. Southern Sudan Open College 
15. Sudan Christian University 
16. Liech University
17. Southern Sudan International College 
18. New Sudan Innovation College
19. Christian Teaching Community College
20. Pan African Institute of Renaissance Studies 
21. Nation of Africa University,” said the Minister. 

Dr. Peter Adwok, the Minister of Higher Education who briefed the press yesterday in Juba said that, the decision came after the Ministry commissioned a study into all the existing private universities in the country. 

“Institutions which do not meet or fulfil the conditions for providing university education are therefore ordered to close with immediate effect and their licenses withdrawn,” said Dr. Adwok. 

“The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology is writing to the Ministry of Justice of South Sudan to institute legal measures against the institutions for fraudulent fleecing of South Sudanese citizens.

There are at least 34 private universities and colleges in South Sudan in addition to at least five public universities. Most of the private universities are for years old now involved in providing degrees, diplomas and certificates in different courses including medicine, engineering among other disciplines.

Study Findings;
According to the study conducted, the Minister explained that; foreign investors use nationals in positions of power and authority as “godfathers” to protect their institutional investments;

Many of the institutions operate in extremely limited spaces in urban residential areas on lease or rent basis. This shuts out the possibility of developing physical, mental or social recreational facilities. 
 
An extremely small number of these institutions have adequate learning amenities such as classrooms, laboratories, stocked libraries, staff offices etc. The academic programs of most of the institutions have not been approved by any authority of higher education in the country abroad. 

Most of the students in the institutions don’t have accredited secondary school leaving certificates. The institutions have no employment contracts or terms of services and most of the staffs whether foreign or national work on part time basis among other findings. 

Dr. Adwok said any certificate awarded by the universities will not be accredited by the Ministry or any institutions as they have not fulfilled the requirements.
 
He called for any person who registered with the institutions to meet the General Directorate of Admission, Evaluation and Accreditation for placement in recognized institutions of higher education on condition that they have school certificates with pass should they wish to continue university education.  

The Ministry has also commissioned a study to all the public universities in the country to find out their current status, terms and contracts of employment, libraries, laboratories among he mentioned. 

This latest reforms into the high education system in the country is aimed at setting a clear system in the infant nation. 

“What we want is to transform the education system from quantity to quality. This is not to deny people the right to education but we want our people to be highly educated in a correct and legal way,” Dr. Adwok said.
 
Even though the government’s decision is welcome, it leaves questions behind as to why the move took so long since a number of graduates from these colleges are currently working in the different private and public institutions in the country.

The shutdown is the latest blow to the education sector following the closer of the University of Juba and colleges of medicine and veterinary science in Wau University until further notice.