Chinese embassy provides scholarship to over 40 needy South Sudanese students

By Denis Ejulu

The Chinese embassy in South Sudan on Thursday awarded scholarship to 48 needy students at the University of Juba in South Sudan.

The Chinese ambassador scholarship award will cover tuition for the students from various fields of study for the period of one- year at the leading public university.

Robert Mayom Deng, Vice Chancellor for the University of Juba, said that scholarship award from the Chinese embassy comes at the time when many of the students are struggling to pay tuition due amid the prevailing economic hardship caused by years of conflict since 2013.

“The conditions we are in at the moment is that everybody has been reduced to the same level, we are all on the same level whether you are a professor or a cleaner because we are not getting salary,” Deng said during a ceremony held in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

He commended the Chinese embassy for it’s generous commitment in supporting various initiatives at the university such as the establishment of the electronic learning center, donation of books and computers and also the construction of the computer learning center.

Isaac Cleto Rial, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Juba noted that they have this year managed to graduate two batches of students amid the difficult economic conditions in the country, which have seen many academic and supporting staff go for months without salaries.

Sylvester Pio John Faki, a sixth- year medical student and beneficiary of the scholarship said that the timely support from the Chinese embassy will relieve the financial burden on their families, hence leaving them to concentrate on their academic studies.

“The scholarship is really a great opportunity for us because most of us are facing financial challenges. This is going to reduce the burden on us and make us focus mostly on academics and other activities,” Faki said.

The Chinese ambassador scholarship award was inaugurated in 2021 with the aim of supporting needy students to pursue their studies.

Ma Qiang, Chinese ambassador to South Sudan said that universities are places for fostering virtue and nurturing talents, stressing that the University of Juba is the top university of South Sudan, with a long history, a galaxy of distinguished faculty and a continuous stream of gifted minds.

“It makes great contributions to the nation’s economic, scientific, cultural and educational advances, serving as a key driver of South Sudan towards peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.

In addition, Ma noted that the University of Juba has been closely engaging with its Chinese counterparts, becoming the pioneer of educational cooperation between China and South Sudan.

“This year witnessed the inauguration of the China cultural center, and a flow of visits to China by faculty and students from the University of Juba. In August, 13 Chinese scholars and experts visited South Sudan and were warmly received by the university,” Ma disclosed.