Nzara's First Secondary School

July 15, 2011 marked the opening of Nzara's first Secondary School. Not only is this school the first secondary school within the town of Nzara, but the first government-funded school in Nzara. To celebrate the success of the finalization and opening of this new school, representatives from the Ministry of Education in Juba, among them- the Minister himself, Mr. Edel Senderai,  made their way to Nzara. A meeting was held in the newly constructed school, with the Ministry of Education leaders, prominent leaders of Nzara County and the secondary students that will soon be filling the classrooms with an appetite to learn.

The meeting opened with a prayer, and was led in English. Then, the Headmaster of the Secondary School spoke, expressing his gratitude for the support and funding the Ministry of Education has provided.

The Headmaster's speech was followed by a young male secondary student, in senior four. He spoke of: the hardships of receiving a quality education without the essentials of proper academic textbooks. The worries the incoming students as they enter a school with no tables and chairs. The universal hopes of he and his peers to be taught by qualified teachers. The future hope of another secondary school across Yabua Bridge, and how currently prospective students would travel from 1 km to 9 km to attend the Nzara Secondary School, and how the further distances challenges a students motivation to attend class with the only transport of footing. And in conclusion thanking the Minister and his colleagues for their support and help thus far in building the Secondary School.

As I listen to the speeches, the echoing mention of one thing was acknowledge by all speakers, that there is a problem. The problem is money and resources.

As the Minister, Mr. Sendrai, spoke, he addressed the challenges presented in the prior speeches. In regards to challenge of tables and chairs for the new school, the Ministers defended the claim that, “It takes a village to raise a child, therefore the villagers need also to provide for their children.” He sighted, that there was no extra money to go towards tables and chairs. The Minister also apologized for the fact that they as a Ministry have not acquired sufficient funds to provides secondary level textbooks for the school.

Mr. Sendrai, The Minister of Education, addressing
the audience.

Later in the Minister's speech he came to the issue of quality teachers. Mr. Senderai revealed that there are a total of 1800 teachers, but only 400 have qualifications. He went on to say, “the remaining 1400 teachers without qualifications will be dismissed.”

Upon hearing that those teachers would be dismissed silent disagreement filled the room.

It was now time to say a final prayer for the event of Opening Day of Nzara's first Secondary School. Leading the prayer was Bishop Peni of Nzara Diocese. As he prayed, he reminisced of the past days when he was a Development Officer in the Diocese of Yambio and was a pioneer of the construction of this new schools in Western Equtoria.

Before the occasion came to a end, Bishop Peni spoke. Speaking directly to the Minister he began by saying, "You are inheriting what i helped to create."

Then addressing the issue of having qualified teachers. Bishop Peni mentioned that in times of war he asked for people to volunteer to become teachers. Teachers, though perhaps not of a particular subject, but rather in the sense of passing on knowledge. That being said, Bishop Peni advised the Minister of Education not to dismiss the voluntary teachers, but rather send the teachers without proper qualifications to a college to be trained.  And in future years to come,  the Ministry of Education will have a greater number of qualified teachers.

The conclusion of Bishop Peni's prayer was followed the Minister cutting the red ribbon, and Nzara Secondary School is now officially open.

Bishop Samuel Peni, Leading us in prayer.