Former Minister of Education, Science and Technology Prof. Job Dharuai Malou Deng has died in Juba following a short illness, his family confirmed Sunday.
Dharuai, who served under the then semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) prior to independence in 2011, died at 7:11 a.m. Sunday at Gudele Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for the past two months.
“It is very unfortunate to announce that it was this morning (Sunday), after he was operated on, when my dad, Prof. Job Dharuai Malou, died in Gudele Hospital where he was receiving medical treatment in the ICU,” his son, Achuil Job Dharuai Malou, told Radio Tamazuj.
The family said his body will be transported to Yirol East County in Lakes State for an official burial next week.
Prof. Dharuai was widely recognized as one of South Sudan’s prominent writers and a key contributor to the development of the Dinka language.
On social media, many expressed their condolences, remembering him not only for his scholarly achievements but also for his kindness and dedication to education and social reform.
As minister, Dharuai played a central role in reforming teacher training institutions, expanding access to basic education, and promoting professional ethics in the teaching field. He was instrumental in launching the “Go to School” campaign, which brought millions of children—many for the first time—into classrooms across the region.
He is remembered as a champion of education and a pioneer in South Sudan’s intellectual and cultural development.