Wau (South Sudan). On 7 February 2025 in Wau, the second largest city of South Sudan, the Inservice program was officially inaugurated of the first Training Course for Primary School teachers, coordinated by Sister Dolores Alphonso, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians of St. Mary D. Mazzarello Community of Mary Help of Christians Province (AES) in the sector of Solidarity with South Sudan.
Enthusiastically supported by the Diocese and the Ministry of Education, the course is the first of its kind in the Western Bahr al-Ghazāl State and was established as a branch of the Solidarity Teacher Training College in Yambio, in the State of Western Equatoria. It is aimed at all those who already teach in primary schools in the city of Wau but do not have nationally recognized qualifications. It aims to provide teachers with qualifications according to national professional standards.
The Inservice program, which has already been successfully launched in Yambio, is a response to the need to ensure quality education for all South Sudanese children. The Ministry of Education has launched an appeal for all primary school teachers to obtain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and, in Wau alone, there are 600 teachers who do not have adequate formation.
The course is held every two years, from Monday to Friday. It is divided into three modules and at the end of the first year, students-teachers must pass an examination to enter the next academic year. After completing the training and passing the final examination, they will obtain a nationally valid certification.
The first 30 teachers, led by the coordinator Sister Dolores, FMA, and two local expert teachers, Steven and Sister Rumbi, have taken this new path, a sign of hope for positive change for a Country that is still struggling for peace and justice.
Solidarity with South Sudan is an initiative of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and the Union of Superiors General (USG), born in 2008 in response to a request from the Catholic Bishops of Sudan. The organization is supported by Catholic religious congregations around the world, as well as foundations and individuals who share its vision to build a more just and peaceful society.
Its mission is to create self-sustaining educational, health, and pastoral institutions and programs to form leaders and empower the people of South Sudan to build a just and peaceful society. Since its foundation, it has trained 834 primary school teachers, 393 nurses and midwives, over 2700 farmers, and more than 3000 pastoral workers.
Source: Solidarity with South Sudan
