Oyam Leaders Demand Clear Boarding Policy from Government

27 September 2026, 1:48 pm

By Eman Yonah Oruk

Political leaders and education officials in Oyam District have appealed to the Government and the Ministry of Education and Sports to issue clear written directives on the boarding policy for secondary schools.

The appeal comes amid growing pressure on schools such as Acaba Secondary School, Abok Seed Secondary School, and other government-aided institutions in Oyam, which are being asked to operate as day schools. As a result, parents of students from distant areas have been compelled to rent houses near schools, raising fears of insecurity and poor academic focus.

Addressing the press from his office recently, the Oyam District Chairman, Nelson Adea Akar, criticized the rumours, stressing that it would be unfair to send boarding students back home at a time when examinations are approaching. He urged Government to allow students to complete their term and sit their examinations before implementing any new policy. Adea emphasized that without official circulars and written documents, such directives would only create confusion and weaken the district’s performance.

The Secretary for Education, Health and Community-Based Services, Hannah Ongom, echoed the same concerns, noting that most schools in Oyam are mixed and parents would struggle to accommodate their children as day scholars. She warned that failure rates could rise sharply if the boarding system is dismantled prematurely. Ongom called on teachers and head teachers to remain committed until the Ministry provides clear guidance, while urging parents to continue supporting their children through PTA resolutions.

Francis Odong Alii, a representative of Oyam District on the Board of Acaba SS, said the school board was shocked by reports that boarding students might be sent home. He insisted that Acaba SS is in the process of becoming a boarding school and warned that reversing this progress would harm both students and the community.

Meanwhile, the LC5 Councillor for Myene who double as Secretary work and technical services , production, marketing and Natural resources, Betty Acomo Opio, described the situation as “mourning” for Oyam’s education future. She warned that forcing students back home would lead to indiscipline and community disturbances, likening the potential impact to being “worse than COVID-19.” She appealed to Government not to enforce the policy during this promotional term, stressing that examination results would be severely affected.