By James Innocent
Yei River county of Central Equatoria state has graduated at least 120 teachers.
The Principal of Yei Teachers Training Institute, Kepo James, has announced the successful graduation of more than 126 teachers.
The graduands earned both diplomas and certificates.
The institution’s 11th anniversary ceremony held in Yei attracted many people from different areas.
Addressing government representatives, parents, and invited stakeholders, Kepo urged the graduates to apply the knowledge they have acquired to serve the people of South Sudan.
He stressed that education has value only when transformed into service, honesty, and dedication to justice.
Kepo encouraged teachers to remain committed to their duties despite the challenging economic and security situation in the country.
The Dean of the College of Education at the University of Juba Emmanuel Taban, who attended the ceremony, reaffirmed that Yei Teachers Training Institute remains the only fully recognized teachers’ training institution in South Sudan.
Taban assured graduates that there are employment opportunities awaiting trained teachers, as the country faces a shortage of qualified educators.
He further advised newly trained teachers to volunteer when necessary as they work toward securing long-term employment and advancing their professional careers.
Meanwhile, the Education Director of Yei River County, Philip Taban, noted that many teachers drop out of the profession due to lack of salaries.
He appealed to the government to improve the education system and raise teachers’ pay to attract and retain qualified educators.
This year’s graduation ceremony drew over 1,000 participants, including officials from national, state, and county governments, parents, teachers, and media representatives.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Morobo County, Charles Data, reported that the security situation in Morobo is calm.
He said the county is contributing 30% towards teachers’ salaries, in addition to national funding, to support the education sector.
Data emphasized the importance of teaching, noting that “no one can pretend to be a teacher,” unlike some other professions. He added that Morobo County faced challenges during national examinations as most of its schools rely on Yei as an exam center.
He called for more investment in Yei Teachers Training Institute to ensure that South Sudan produces enough qualified teachers to meet the country’s education needs.
One of the graduate Boboya Francis applauds the education ministry and the entire college officials for working hard until their success.