What is good? University, Technical or Vocational Education for South Sudan.

 

By Ater Yuot Riak Amogpai, Ph.D.

Education has been progressively advancing in all its levels. In its evolving transformation, students must be carefully selective about their education interests. There are three major types of branches of education: vocational, technical and university. However, technical and vocational education are sometimes used synonymously. In fact, technical education refers to post high school courses of study and practical training aimed at preparation of technicians to work as supervisory staff while, vocational education on the other hands, refers to post primary school courses of study aiming to equip students with skills for a particular job such as carpenter, wilding, construction, automobile repair, electric wiring, cooking, cleaning, plumping, fashion design, etc.

Vocational Education is to give the students skills to make them ready for a particular job. It is more practical and hands-on and involves less theoretical study. Vocational education (Training) is more suitable for people who are looking for quick employment, as it trains people for jobs. It is also suitable for people looking to re-join work or transition into a new profession that requires skill. It is also very suitable for people who are short of time and resources to study at a university but can learn at flexible times.

Technical Education is the understanding and practical application of basic principles of science and mathematics. Technical education aimed at preparing graduates for occupations that are classed above the skilled crafts (vocational training) but below the scientific or engineering professions. Such persons are frequently called technicians. Technical occupations are vital in a wide range of fields, including agriculture, business administration, computers and data processing, education, environmental and resource management, graphic arts and industrial design, and health and medicine. Technical education is typically offered in post-high-school curricula that are two years in length, are not designed to lead to a bachelor’s degree, and are offered in a wide variety of institutions, such as technical institutes, junior colleges, vocational schools, and regular colleges and universities.

University Education is the traditional degree-based education system. Its aim is to make the student learn a particular stream of study. It covers the theoretical part extensively and gives students an in-depth understanding. It is commonly pursued after graduating from high school and leads to the degrees of Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD, in that sequence.  It is an investment for the future and acquiring practical skills on the job over time. A university education often gives conceptual or broad awareness that can be decided to apply to a range of roles within a line of work. University education or professional education, may include fields as science, engineering, law, medicine, economics, etc. Therefore, a university education degree is suitable for people who like in-depth knowledge and who like to become researchers, scientists and professors.

All three types of education: University, Technical and Vocational are good for South Sudan. However, the government should have a policy to prioritize technical and vocational education. Because, industrialization starts with technical and vocational education. Not many are interested or able to invest in university education. They prefer hands- on jobs with a stable income. Thus, I suggest 80% of the primary and high students should be prepared for technical and vocational education while the rest of the 20% reserves for university education who want to go for further knowledge acquisition. Those trained technical and vocational graduates immediately entered the market with their needed skills in hand. Currently, the government has no student support such as student’s loans, therefore, university education is entirely our own responsibility.

What after implementation of the Unified Human Resource Policy Manual (UHRPM 2020) in the South Sudan Petroleum Sector?

 

By Ater Yuot Riak Amogpai, Ph.D.

On Friday, June 18, 2021, the Council of Ministers chaired by the President of the Republic of South Sudan Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit held a meeting on the Unified Human Resource Policy Manual (UHRPM 2020) and came out with the resolution No: 08/2021. The resolution instructed the Ministry of Petroleum (MoP) to immediately implement the policy and fully. In response to the resolution, the Minister of Petroleum Hon. Puot Kang Chol issued several ministerial orders to Joint Operating Companies (JOCs) for further action. The implementation processes have not been easy between the MoP and foreign partners (Chinese, Malaysians and Indians) and, between JOCs management and the national employees on the other side.

From 2018 to 2019, the national workers in the JOCs started industrial actions demanding suspended and deleted allowances, loans and all other privileges. Anchored on South Sudan Labor Law, the UHRPM 2020 calls for bridging a wide and unacceptable remuneration gap between international and national workers. The gap runs in tens of thousands of dollars. It also calls for the reduction of expenditure of air tickets, accommodation, visas, and group life insurance for expatriates and secondees to reduce the operation cost. It further stated that the unification of salary structure among the JOCs shall be reviewed.

Throughout the year 2021, the national’s workers in the oil sector have battled with JOCs over the full implementation of the UHRPM 2020. The national workers laid down their tools both at the headquarters in Juba and at the oil fields several times. They have been demanding for the harmonization of salary structure fair to both national and international workers, allowances, loans, social insurance fund among others.

On Thursday, June 16, 2022, the MoP held a workshop on the UHRPM 2020 intended to bring all parties on one page. It was attended by the Nile Petroleum Corporation (NilePet), foreign partners, National Petroleum and Gas Commission, and the Ministry of Labor. All parties have agreed to support the implementation of the policy with effect from January 2021. The workshop further approved the Nilepet and foreign secondees Tariffs are as well. Any amendments and corrections will be incorporated in the next edition.

Currently, the UHRPM 2020 has been approved and become a law that is eligible for petroleum sector utilization. It is not the end of history, with the ending of the Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) by 2027, partners may find a way to languish all benefits mentioned in the policy. The human resources departments in the JOCs have applied the salary structure proposed by the Mop for both foreign and national employees. The policy is not yet fully implemented, however, one thousand mile starts with one mile. The effective time of the policy started from January 2021, and all amendments and corrections would be added in the next editions of the policy. 

We would love to thank the President of the Republic of South Sudan Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit for his support and wisdom and his entire cabinet for their support. We also love to thank the Minister of Petroleum Hon. Puot kang Chol for his efforts to table the issue of the UHRPM 2020 to the Council of Ministers. We are as well thankful of the MoP staff who keep their eyes on the processes of the UHRPM 2020 till its implementation. We are very grateful for our foreign partners for their patients since the first day of the presses to the day of the agreement. It was a tremendous negotiation. We continue the spirit of teamwork, trust and advancement of petroleum business in South Sudan.