2 billion pounds debt impedes Garang Memorial University from reopening

By Winnie Cirino

The Bor-based Doctor John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology will not reopen after accumulating about two billion SSP in feeding arrears.

The University’s food contractor, Samuel Machar said the university owes him two billion South Sudanese pounds accumulated since he was contracted in 2019 to feed the over 2,000 students at the university.

“I’m supposed to be paid 2 billion SSP because the calculation that is usually done, you multiply the number of students per year or the month of the academic year,” Machar said adding he knows the Minister of Higher Education has been trying to take up the issue with the former Minister of Finance but he doesn’t understand why his payment delayed. Machar signed a contract with the government to supply food. 

When the Minister of Higher Education, Gabriel Chang was contacted, he said he did not wish to make any media comments because he is working on resolving the issue.

Machar said at times he is denied access to the Ministry of Finance whenever he attempts to contact the minister to follow up on his money. 

“I will not risk losing any more money on supplying the University with food this academic year unless I’m paid.” Machar emphasized.  

Some Students from the university say they are concerned over the delay in the University’s reopening after the government allowed schools and universities to reopen in April following a year-long lockdown due to Covid-19.

Magook Machot, a student at Dr. John Garang University said since the end of the 2019 academic year, students were hopeful that they would resume school in 2020, but due to the Covid 19-related lockdown, the students failed to resume classes. 

He said when the lockdown was lifted in April, he was surprised to see that the Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology did not reopen. 

“What is so hard about reopening the University while Corona virus lockdown was lifted by the government, of which other higher institutions of learning, government institutions, markets, churches, international travelling and cultural events like wrestling are now functioning?” Machot demanded.

Last year flooding affected the university but during the arrival of construction materials and commencing ceremony for groundbreaking for the ongoing construction in the university, the Vice Chancellor promised to reopen the university he added.

Machot reiterates that the university had a meeting but there was no clear resolution as to when the university would reopen. He said after raising several complaints to university administrators, students were later informed that the University cannot reopen because the university’s food supplier was not paid.

He added that several students decided to stay close to the university in hopes that it would soon resume classes, but their wait has been in vain.

Athiei Deng Pul, another student at the university said while the students want to complete their education and join the job market, the delay in opening the university is consuming their time and fears they will no longer be able to stay in school.

“I am a finalist, I should have finished in 2020, and now we’re in 2021, and still the University is not opening”

“There’re a lot of opportunities that are coming my way but I don’t have documents to apply. But if the University opens, we can graduate and look for jobs so that you help yourself and your family members. This is a big problem squeezing us.” Pul told The Insider.

The students are calling on top government leaders to support the university administration to clear the money so that students can resume classes. 

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abraham Matoc Dhal admitted that the university has not reopened because a company contracted to supply food to the university was not paid and did not supply food this academic year. 

Prof. Dhal said when the lockdown was lifted, the University started with supplementary and substitute examinations which they finished, but the University could not continue because of a lack of food. 

“We cannot open the university for the students to come and stay hungry, that will be inhuman and we have been in a series of meetings with the minister of finance, minister of higher education, and now I am on standby as the Vice Chancellor to see the president on what policies they’ll decide after that.” Prof. Dhal told The Insider.