South Sudan lawmakers told to take English classes

South Sudan’s second deputy speaker of the recently reconstituted parliament has appealed to lawmakers to take up English classes to easy communication between themselves in the country’s official language.

Rt. Hon. Awerial Aluong while speaking at an event this past week said some of the parliamentarians are facing difficulties in participating in deliberations which are usually done in English as the “official language’ of business in the assembly.

While some members of the public are asking the parliament to use translation softwares, others say it is essential for members of the house to undertake intensive English courses.

“He has done well. Some of them are embarrassing themselves and the country,” said a commentator, according to Talk of Juba.

“The deputy speaker must be new in that parliament, the conduct of business allows any member to communicate in any language that they know better as long as they take permission from the speaker, then the speaker will ask for translation. It is not a law that they have to use English,” argues another.

“The fact that English is the official language in this country, the reason can be to enable members to have a medium of communication when sent on foreign missions,” another thought.

In August this year, over 650 members of the legislative assembly were sworn in.