South Sudan News: Minister of HIGHER Education “OBTAIN” Goes Viral on Social Media
Denay Jok Chagor(L), South Sudan Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Photo credit: supplied)
March 29, 2020(SSNN) — Over the last twenty four hours, a significant number of South Sudanese intellectuals, have created memes, jokes, #DenayChallenge and other hashtags over what they call “a poorly constructed letter” from the office of the Minister of Higher Education, Science & Technology, Hon. Denay Jok Chagor.
The letter, which is believed to have been authored and signed by the minister himself, was meant to request the Ministry of Education of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to accommodate the South Sudanese students in their country during this crisis, however, the wording of the letter caught attention of South Sudanese online.
In a bolded and underlined title, the South Sudanese Minister of Higher Education is requesting his Ethiopian counterpart to “obtain” the South Sudanese students, which reads in contradiction to the content of the text.
In addition to obtain, Hon. Denay Chagor appreciates the Ethiopian Minister for improved academic and bilateral relationships between the two countries;
“First, accept my sincere thanks and appreciation to you and the government of Ethiopia for increasing an opportunity and corporation between between the two countries.” The Minister wrote in his letter.
The Minister friendly requests his counterpart to allow South Sudanese students, who are studying in Ethiopia, to remain there during what he calls as a “difficult time of pandemic disease (COVID-19)” and assures that his government will take care of their bills;
“Therefore, the government of South Sudan will be responsible for their feeding and other needs” Hon. Denay writes.
Public Reaction:
Reacting with mixed feelings, many South Sudanese critics wonder if Hon. Denay deserves the big position and whether or not the decision he was making was actually approved by the cabinet of South Sudan;
“That was simplistic to say the least, how do you request another country to keep ten of thousands of students without clear specifications as if you are requesting a daycare to look after your child for a day or two. What about students in other countries won’t they need such accommodation as well. Does South Sudan has that budget” Emmanuel Wani writes on his social media account.
” I don’t know exactly what the minister of Higher education meant. If obtain got another meaning in English is so fine and then we need him to explain what he meant.” Gatjiak Mach wrote on social media.
“Students are in Ethiopia already no need to obtain them, the request should be to keep them or to remain in Ethiopia for period of time. Or to detent which means detain them for period of time.” Jualjok Wel Aruor writes
“Request to obtain South Sudanese Student” is a perfect phrase. The only issue is that it does contradict the message that they want to have South Sudanese students remain in Ethiopia. But it was as if they wanted to get the students out from reading “the subject headline”. Said Manyik Majok
“thank you, but grammatically the entire letter is wrong/incorrect. 1) subject is contradicting the letter- verb obtain doesn’t address the topic. 2) comma and period splice in the body of the letter…etc.” Said David Nhial
Over the last 24 hours, the term obtain has gone viral on South Sudanese Facebook walls.
South Sudanese students in other countries are also raising questions whether or not the government has any plan to “obtained” them in their respective countries of studies.
Hon. Denay, who is filling a big shoe that has been filled by professors and PhD holders before him, is not only new to politics but may not have a teaching background or work experience in research and higher institutions.
Hon. Denay won his ticket through the embattled South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) which has had a few internal crises especially on the appointment of the 5th Vice President and appointment of Ministers that had to be arbitrated by president Kiir.
Denay is not the first politician in this position, the Minister of Health, Hon. Elizabeth Acuei Yol, trended on social media less than a week ago over her coronavirus speech.
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