Lawmakers in Transitional National Legislative Assembly are set to summon senior government ministers to explain a controversial decision to allocate part of the land belonging to Rumbek National Secondary School to Rumbek University of Science and Technology.
The move follows growing public debate and political concern over the fate of one of the country’s oldest learning institutions.
Established in 1945, Rumbek National Secondary School holds significant historical value, with generations of South Sudanese passing through its classrooms.
According to parliamentary officials, the matter has been classified as a priority by the Assembly’s Business Committee after it was formally raised during a briefing to Speaker Joseph Ngere Paciko. Lawmakers say the controversy surrounding the proposed land allocation warrants urgent scrutiny.
“We have received reports suggesting the school may be converted into a university facility, which raises serious concerns,” said Oliver Mori Benjamin, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Information Committee, as quoted by Eye Radio.
“Parliament must establish the facts and ensure the public interest is protected.”
The issue has now been referred to the specialised committees on higher education and general education, which are expected to call in relevant ministers to provide detailed explanations of the government’s plans.
At the centre of the dispute is a directive to allocate the school’s premises for use by the university reportedly to house a faculty of health sciences, given its proximity to Rumbek State Hospital.
Government officials argue that the plan is part of a broader effort to expand higher education infrastructure in the region.
Last week, Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol said the proposal had been approved by President Salva Kiir.
He added that authorities intend to construct a new secondary school to replace the current facility, stressing that relocation would not happen until a new campus is completed.
Officials have also defended the plan on financial grounds, saying building a new secondary school would be more cost-effective than establishing an entirely new university campus from scratch.
However, the proposal has met resistance from sections of the public and local leaders, who argue that the school’s legacy should not be compromised.
Critics, including prominent voices such as Laat Maker Riak and Gai Mayen Luk, have called for the preservation of the institution, warning that its historical and cultural significance cannot be easily replaced.
The unfolding dispute highlights broader tensions around development, heritage, and education policy in South Sudan.
While the government emphasises expansion and modernisation, opponents fear that longstanding institutions could be sidelined in the process.
Parliament’s intervention now places the issue firmly in the national spotlight, with ministers expected to face tough questions over the rationale, timing, and implications of the decision.
For now, the future of Rumbek National Secondary School remains uncertain caught between plans for expansion and calls for preservation—as lawmakers prepare to weigh the next steps.
