CDTY Trains and Commission School Inspectors

Each of the six deaneries of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY) sent two participants for the training which culminated into their commissioning as the trainees also received bicycles to facilitate their movements.

The diocese felt the need to have school inspectors and train them for the job so that they (inspectors) can help improve the quality of education among the Catholic Schools as the diocese is second to the government in terms of running educational institutions. CDTY has 52 kindergartens, 37 primary schools, and eight secondary schools as such, the diocese felt that certain schools located in some parts should have inspectors to help the Catholic Education Secretariat manage, guide, and motivate these schools for quality and learning.

The three-days training for the inspectors was meant to make them aware of their roles, what it means to be an education inspector as well as their duties and obligations as an inspector. For instance, when they visit a school, what do they do, what do they look for. The training was meant to make them aware that they ought not to visit a school like a police person who is going to investigate wrongdoings and make arrests, rather they go as teachers, as helpers, and as motivators. And also to assist teachers who might be stressed and angry, to encourage them, to counsel them, and to motivate them to do their job well.

These inspectors will also be required to collect relevant data that could help for the planning of the catholic education programs within the diocese. At the same time, they go there to see the performance of the schools and to ascertain whether they are performing to the required standards and expectations for the Catholic schools or not. At the same time, these inspectors will be identifying the challenges and constraints that teachers are encountering and laying down some information for future planning and growth.

The training was conducted by the Catholic University of South Sudan, St. John Yambio campus led by the University’s Deputy Director Dr. Juliana, and other senior trained teachers.

Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro who attended the conclusion of the training appealed to both girls and boys to embrace education and go back to school despite the challenges of Covid 19 pandemic disease. He said that the main reason for opening schools is not to make money but rather to provide quality learning services for the children.

The inspectors will be under the leadership of the episcopal vicar of the deanery as well as the Catholic coordination office at the deaneries.

It is hoped that with the school inspectors in place, the diocese will be in a position to help provide quality education as well as have clear statistics of the catholic educational institutions students, teachers, and the facilities available.

The inspectors who attended the training expressed their gratitude to the diocese as they expressed that they learned a lot during the training

By Joseph Ernesto Chakaya.