Hon. Adut Salva Kiir, Senior Presidential Envoy for Special Programs - courtesy

Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, Adut Salva Kiir, stated that the government must increase investment in public education to ensure state institutions can support vulnerable learners.

At the Rumbek University of Science and Technology graduation in Lakes State on Monday, April 14, the Envoy announced that her office is enrolling 1,500 students—including orphans and street children—under the National High School Sponsorship Program (2026–2029).

The first cohort of 1,500 beneficiaries, drawn from all ten states and the three administrative areas, is expected to be placed in schools between April and early May.

While the scholarship program marks a significant milestone in expanding access to education, the Envoy stressed that the sustainability of such initiatives depends on the quality of public infrastructure. She urged a strategic shift away from a heavy reliance on private institutions.

“In the next school year, we should be able to enroll the same 1,500 students,” Adut stated. “But instead of enrolling them in a private school, we, as a government, should have worked on our public education.

Our primary schools, secondary schools, and universities should be able to accommodate the students who get scholarships.”

The Envoy warned that without targeted investment, public institutions risk being “left to languish.”

She noted that improving the capacity and quality of state-run schools is the only way to ensure that education remains accessible to all citizens, regardless of their economic background.

The National High School Sponsorship Program, which was officially launched in February, aims to provide a consistent pathway for disadvantaged youth over the next three years.

However, the Envoy maintained that the program’s long-term success is tied to the government’s ability to revitalise the public sector.

By focusing on public primary and secondary schools, she argued, the government can create a more equitable system that fosters national development and innovation from the ground up.