Yei Teachers Training College (YTTC) has graduated 126 new educators in a ceremony aimed at tackling a critical shortage of qualified teachers in South Sudan.
The college held its 11th graduation in Yei on Tuesday under the theme “Educators Shaping Futures.” The new graduates specialise in either Education or Agriculture.
The college’s principal, Dr Kepo James, praised the students and partners, but issued a stark warning about the state of the country’s education system.
“Go forth and serve our people with courage, determination, and integrity,” he told the graduates. “As we celebrate this day, we are reminded once again of the dire need for teachers in our country.
“Hundreds of thousands of children… are going through an education system that does not provide even the basic foundational skills because of the poor quality of the teaching.”
He stated that untrained teachers, who often lack the necessary skills, can end up “damaging the minds of our children.”
The graduating class included 51 men and 75 women. The overall best-performing student, Anite Ruth, described her award as “unbelievable.”
She defended the teaching profession, which she said is often undervalued. “Coming into it, that’s when you will see its value,” she said. “We actually need very many teachers because when you check around, there are teachers but untrained, which is really affecting our country.”
Another graduate, Boboya Francis, welcomed the high number of women in his cohort. “To me, it is not a surprise but words of encouragement… I have seen that they have an important role to play in the communities,” he said.
Calls for Support
Local officials used the event to call for greater support for the education sector. Yei County Education Director, Reverend Philip Taban-Issa, urged partners to sponsor teachers and help prevent them from leaving the profession.
“We need to motivate teachers fully so that they can be committed to their work and they cannot desert,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, the Right Reverend Levi Marandulu, appealed to the government to reconsider taxes on faith-based institutions, which run many schools.
“The flat-rate taxes imposed on institutions like ours pose a serious challenge,” he said. “We are not a profit-making entity. Rather, we complement government efforts… These taxes directly affect our schools, learners, and parents.”
The Yei Teachers Training College has produced experienced teachers for South Sudan for over a decade.