Gabriel Changson Lew Chang, Minister of Higher Education - Credit: Office of the President - September 8, 2022

The Higher Education Minister has announced plans to introduce online applications for students willing to join public universities across the country.

According to Gabriel Changson Chang, the ministry will use what he described as a ‘manual approach and online applications this year.

He said an internet system has already been developed at the ministry to effectively implement the plan.

Changson said the move is in line with the vision of the Higher Education Policy Framework 2021-202.

The Higher Education policy is one of the significant aspects that aim to transform the higher education sector in South Sudan.

It requires the Ministry of Higher Education to provide accessible quality, relevant, inclusive education, training, and research for a prosperous, productive, and innovative nation.

This will ensure that higher education institutions meet the knowledge, competencies, skills, quality, innovation, and creativity required to nurture South Sudanese values, promote peaceful coexistence among ethnicities, and enable sustainable development.

Changson said online admission in the universities will be implemented with the support of other stakeholders.

“We in the ministry, we are going digital, we are going online and even admission in the universities this year,” Changson said.

“Students will use two approaches this year, one manual and then the other will begin to introduce the online application,” he said.

“This is very important so that our students when they go outside, don’t also suffer when they don’t know this basic and we will team up with telecommunication to support this effort. We have introduced an internet system to our new ministry.”

“Neighbouring countries using online admission in universities include Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Sudan among others.”