Addressing parliament on Tuesday, Minister Kuyok Abol Kuyok said some county commissioners have disrupted the transportation of exam materials by detaining aircraft—an action that has discouraged airlines from providing essential services.

He cautioned that such interference, combined with high logistical costs, could delay the timely delivery of examinations, particularly to remote areas accessible only by air.

The minister made the remarks during the second reading of the National Examination Council Bill, 2026.

“The logistic of exams, when the examination comes, we must make sure every child in South Sudan, wherever they are, whether they are in Long-chuk, they are in Nasser, they are in Maban, must have the opportunity to sit the examination. Yei is a hundred miles from here, but you have to fly…

Some honorable commissioners would even go and detain the plane and they say, this plane has no right to land here… And the plane would be delayed. So, when we are having examination, some of these airlines would refuse to transport our exams. We would have to beg them… and it must be transported in time. So, the logistic of examination requires a lot of money,” he said.

Kuyok also raised concern over the handling of examination fees collected last year, saying the funds were deposited in the central bank but later used without the direct control of the examination council.

“Last year was the first time ever that we collected fees for exams. Fees were collected, but of course, the money was deposited in the central bank to be used for exams. Now when the money was deposited in the central bank, it was no longer in our hands. It was used by other people, in the name of the account of the examination council. But they said they used the money. The money was used in Wau, in Malakal, and in Juba, where we have branches of the central bank. So, this is a big problem,” Kuyok told parliament.

The minister said the combination of logistical challenges and concerns over financial control underscores the need for stronger institutional safeguards to protect the national examination process.

He called on authorities at all levels to cooperate and ensure that both the transportation of exam materials and the management of funds are handled transparently and efficiently to guarantee equal access for all students.