Dismissed Students of University of Juba Threaten Protest

Students at the University of Juba in the Republic of South Sudan. The university was closed due to student protests., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

The Citizen (Juba)

South Sudan: Dismissed Students of University of Juba Threaten Protest

By Dhieu Williams, 10 August 2012

Juba — Ten days after official reopening of University of Juba the claimed 560 dismissed students in a surprise rally yesterday threatened to stage a protest if the concerned officials in the government particularly the Ministry of Higher Education and others concerned with education affairs failed to intervened in the University administration and students row.

The decision from students was a reaction to a public notice published on the wall of the University new campus named complex hall situated at Custom by Deanship of students' affairs urging all the dismissed students to submit appeals as per administrative order No.43-2o12/A/43.

"Pleased hand over your appeals with supporting documents to the registrar of your respective college at lecturing hall complex at Custom" reads part of the notice signed by Dr.Lino Gwaki Deanship of students' affairs. "The closing date for receiving such appeals is 15th August 2012" it continued. As The Citizen reporter was still reading the notice one of the angry students tore off the note from the wall.

Numerous dismissed students blamed the decision of sending them out of the University on the principal's decision backed by the Vice Chancellor.

"You will be back. You are not dismissed!" assured the President of the dissolved Juba University Student Union JUSU Ajang Ajang amid loud applause in what sounded as a lobby to obtain support from the students.

"If we take the law into our hands, the University administration and the Chairperson of Education Committee in the National Legislative Assembly will take the blame for any destruction," said one of the dismissed students applauded by others.

Marko Lueth Manyang, student from the university in possession ID claimed himself to be included in the black list and he remains uncertain because he is one of the students in the alleged list of dismissed students still staying in the hostel.

Meanwhile Juwiir Juwiir Deng wondering in halls without ID a week plus since reopening of the University told The Citizen that he was refused to fill a form of acquiring the ID card and the only answers from the lecturer issuing cards was "go and apologise to the University administration" which he refused to do because according to him he has not committed any crimes that deserved him to apologize.

But for Bol Madut his case was different, he claimed to have been included in the list of the dismissed students who were residing in the hostels while he was living at home.

'They are telling me my name is in the list of dismissed students who live in the hostels but I did not live in any of the University hostels," he angrily said. It is believed that the list of students submitted by the Assembly committee included names of students staying outside the hostels but they gave their names to the committee with the hope of being transported to their states. Those students affected by decision taken based on the list insist that the committee and the university administration have to rely on real information and reverse their decision of dismissal..

Students who acquired their identity cards interviewed by The Citizen have a different opinion about the rally threatening to launch a protest for the fear that the University might close again but urged their fellow students to follow the procedures of readmission as communicated.

The Vice Chancellor of University of Juba Prof.Aggrey L.Abate late last month in press conference announced reopening of the university declared his administration dismissed the few students who had been illegally occupying the girl's hostel, Twin hostel and Prefab and they would consider readmission appeal individually.

'We dismissed students who disobeyed the order to evacuate the hostels," said Abate on the day to announce news of long awaited reopening without specifying how many students were but showing the list in confidential insisting they were few students.

Abate earlier said there will be no accommodation as well as feeding for students but in future' they will accommodate students because the University in the meantime could not afford.

The University remains closed since late March following minor fight that broke out between students in a football field allegedly on tribal line but probability of closure again could not be ruled out as students threat continues on reopening.