FULUS MEDIA

Minister of Higher Education: Students Sent abroad with 90–98% grades are performing poorly in foreign universities

South Sudanese students on Ethiopian and Moroccan scholarships are underperforming despite outstanding entry grades, National Minister of Higher Education Madut Biar told lawmakers.

"We have two countries... that gave us scholarships: Ethiopia and Morocco. We have been sending students with grades [of] 90% to 98%... but they perform poorly," Biar said. He added that the trend "affects our status as South Sudanese," particularly among science students, and that host countries now describe the placements as "a loss."

Biar said the assessment came from counterparts in both countries.

The remarks land amid expanding access to study abroad. Ethiopia raised its scholarship offer to South Sudanese students from 150 to 645, while Morocco advertised fully funded places for the 2026/2027 academic year through the Ministry of Higher Education.

NEC declares 102 constituencies for 2026 elections

South Sudan’s National Elections Commission has declared 102 geographical constituencies for the December 2026 general elections.

In a statement signed by NEC Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol, the commission said it will use the 2010 general election constituencies after parties to the peace agreement agreed to delink the elections from a new population census and constitution-making process.

According to the NEC, Central Equatoria will have 14 constituencies, Eastern Equatoria 11, Western Equatoria 8, Jonglei 17 including Greater Pibor, Unity 7 including Ruweng, Upper Nile 12, Lakes 8, Northern Bahr el Ghazal 9, Western Bahr el Ghazal 4, and Warrap 12 including Abyei.

The commission said the decision is in line with the National Elections Act 2012, as amended in 2023.

South Sudan’s general elections are scheduled for December 22, 2026, the country’s first since independence.

Here is the list of 102 geographical constituencies arranged by state and administrative area:

Central Equatoria State — 14

Juba North Constituency No. 1

Juba South Constituency No. 2

Munuki Constituency No. 3

Juba West Constituency No. 4

Juba East Constituency No. 5

Yei Town Constituency No. 6

Yei West Constituency No. 7

Yei South Constituency No. 8

Kajo-Keji West Constituency No. 9

Kajo-Keji Town Constituency No. 10

Terekeka East Constituency No. 11

Terekeka West Constituency No. 12

Morobo Constituency No. 13

Lainya Constituency No. 14

Eastern Equatoria State — 11

Torit Constituency No. 1

Lafon Constituency No. 2

Lopa Constituency No. 3

Kapoeta North Constituency No. 4

Kapoeta East 1 Constituency No. 5

Kapoeta East 2 Constituency No. 6

Kapoeta South Constituency No. 7

Budi Constituency No. 8

Ikotos Constituency No. 9

Magwi Constituency No. 10

Pageri Constituency No. 11

Western Equatoria State — 8

Mundri Town Constituency No. 1

Mvolo Town Constituency No. 2

Maridi Town Constituency No. 3

Ibba Town Constituency No. 4

Yambio Town Constituency No. 5

Nzara Town Constituency No. 6

Ezo Town Constituency No. 7

Tambura Town Constituency No. 8

Jonglei State and Greater Pibor Administrative Area — 17

Jonglei State

Old Fangak Constituency No. 1

Pigi/Khorflus Constituency No. 2

Ayod North Constituency No. 3

Ayod South Constituency No. 4

Akobo North Constituency No. 5

Akobo South Constituency No. 6

Nyirol Constituency No. 7

Uror North Constituency No. 8

Uror South Constituency No. 9

Twic East Constituency No. 10

Duk Constituency No. 11

Bor Athoc Constituency No. 12

Bor South Centre Constituency No. 13

Bor Gok Constituency No. 14

Greater Pibor Administrative Area

Pochalla Constituency No. 15

Pibor West Constituency No. 16

Pibor East Constituency No. 17

Unity State and Ruweng Administrative Area — 7

Unity State

Rubkona Constituency No. 1

Guit Constituency No. 2

Mayendit Constituency No. 3

Mayom Constituency No. 4

Leer Constituency No. 5

Ruweng Administrative Area

Pariang Constituency No. 6

Abiemnom Constituency No. 7

Upper Nile State — 12

Malakal Ogot Constituency No. 1

South Malakal Panyikang Constituency No. 2

Renk Geiger Constituency No. 3

Maban Constituency No. 4

Nasir-Dingkar Constituency No. 5

Kiechkuon-Mading Constituency No. 6

Kuereng-Ke Constituency No. 7

Malut and Baliet Constituency No. 8

Fashoda and Manyo Constituency No. 9

Maiwut Constituency No. 10

Ulang Constituency No. 11

Longuchuk Constituency No. 12

Lakes State — 8

Cueibet Constituency No. 1

Rumbek North Constituency No. 2

Rumbek Centre Constituency No. 3

Wulu Constituency No. 4

Rumbek East Constituency No. 5

Yirol West Constituency No. 6

Yirol East Constituency No. 7

Awerial Constituency No. 8

Northern Bahr el Ghazal State — 9

Gokmachar Constituency No. 1

Korok Constituency No. 2

Abiem East Constituency No. 3

Abiem Centre Constituency No. 4

Abiem West Constituency No. 5

Aweil South Constituency No. 6

Aweil Town Constituency No. 7

Cimel and Gomjuer Constituency No. 8

Ayat and Majak Constituency No. 9

Western Bahr el Ghazal State — 4

Raga Centre Constituency No. 1

Wau South Payam Constituency No. 2

Marial Bai Payam Constituency No. 3

Wau North Payam Constituency No. 4

Warrap State and Abyei Administrative Area — 12

Abyei and Twic Constituency No. 1

Twic Constituency No. 2

Twic Constituency No. 3

Twic Constituency No. 4

Gogrial West Constituency No. 5

Gogrial West Constituency No. 6

Gogrial West and Gogrial East Constituency No. 7

Gogrial East Constituency No. 8

Tonj North Constituency No. 9

Tonj North Constituency No. 10

Tonj East Constituency No. 11

Tonj South Constituency No. 12