Juba University Vice Chancellor Prof. Robert Mayom speak at a forum during the International Human Right Day|Photo by Moses Awan

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba disclosed that no South Sudanese student has qualified for the EU’s prestigious scholarship for bright African students in the past five years, attributing the failure to exam cheating (Machot) and students’ focus on politics instead of academics.

“Last month, we had a function organized by Erasmus, it is an organization in Europe which sponsors bright students in Africa to go and study in Europe, for the last five years”, said Prof. Robert Mayom during a panel discussion to mark International Human Rights Day on Tuesday.

Erasmus is a European Union programme supporting education, training youth and offering scholarships for brighter individual students from other non-EU countries

Since the start of the programme in 1987, over 15 million people have taken part in Erasmus, with enthusiastic take-up of opportunities by staff, students, young people, and learners of all ages.

It has an estimated budget of about $27.55 billion, with the 2021-2027 programme focusing on social inclusion, green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.

Prof. Mayom urged students to focus on their education to enable them to compete with other countries.

“We have never had a South Sudanese who managed to pass and obtain a scholarship simply because you people you want to be engaged in politics, leave the politics to those who make politics as the only way to survive.”

“Some of you who came through Machot (cheating) to this institution, you are not going to survive. I want quality so that you can go and compete with the Kenyan, you can compete with the Nigerian”, he added.