BOR – Dr John Garang University has conducted its first graduation ceremony on Saturday under the theme, “Celebrating 13 years of our services and achievements of our students.”
The university was founded in 2006, as John Garang Institute of Science and Technology. The institute was elevated to university status in 2010.
As of January 2014, the university maintained five Colleges and one Institute, with plans for new ones to open in the future.
The Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan Dr James Wani Igga who was the guest of honour said education is a right of every citizen as enshrined in the constitution.
“South Sudan literacy rate due to the conflict is very discouraging and we must work together to provide a quality education in the country,” Wani Igga said.
Igga said the government is working hard to empower youth’s political mobilization through dedicated associations into political bodies.
Deng Deng Hoc the South Sudan Minister of Higher Education said he was extremely delighted and overjoyed to have attended the occasion.
“As from February 2020 there shall be introduction of the first national curriculum produced after the independence of the Republic of South Sudan as it is a world class curriculum,” Deng Deng Hoc said.
Deng said that the curriculum aims to develop its citizens and environmental responsible members in the society.
The Jonglei state governor Maker Thiong Maal, said his government would continue supporting John Garang Univerity.
“The state government is ready to provide a continuous support to share any problem facing the university,” Maker Thiong Maal said.
Maker appreciates the steadfast leadership under president Kiir for implementing the dream and vision of the institution.
He said that the construction of university will start towards the beginning of next year.
He urge graduates to use their newly acquired powers and skills, “to be good ambassadors of the university, Jonglei state and South Sudan at large.”
The vice chancellor of the university Abraham Matoc Dhal said 901 students have graduated from the five colleges.
“Let the education and knowledge you acquired have a positive impact to the society,” Matoc Dhal said.
He urges the students who have not reached final courses to study hard so that they graduate successfully in the next academic years.
The South Sudan’s Defence Minister and the chairperson of the University Council, Kuol Manyang Juuk said, he wants the University to be a world classic university.
He encouraged the people of Jonglei to abandon the culture of paying expensive dowries for marriages as it encourages corruption.
Jonglei Website managed to speak to some of the graduates. Aluel Mary Wel, a graduate from college of Management Science expressed her feeling after spending several years at the campus.
“I am so excited, I am very happy because I have been in this university for eight years and today has marked my graduation for both diploma and bachelor degree in Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology,” Aluel added
She added that their studies were interrupted by 2013 crisis for two years.
Corolino Nyok Makuei, one of the graduands expressed his joy and happiness as he recently completed his diploma in business management.
Minister Deng Deng Hoc said it is time to take both girls and boys to school because education is the most powerful weapon which he said can be used to transform the world.
Among nine hundred, one (901) graduates at John Garang University, fifty five (55) were females.