SCIPTURE UNION MEMBERS RECEIVE INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY TRAINING

By Miss Teddy Teresa

Scripture Union members at Yei Teacher Training Collage received Inductive Bible Study training which was organised by the Fellowship of Christian University Students (FOCUS) in Yei Teacher Training Collage from Thursday 20^th – Saturday 22nd.

In an interview with Joseph Buchoti, he said the training aims to improve the way of reading the Bible among the students and give them the skill on how to preach the Bible to others.

He further told the journalists that FOCUS provides training for all colleges and universities across South Sudan were every April of each year they conduct joint annual training at the headquarters’ in Juba which all the colleges and universities come together to share ideas of Bible study to promote scripture union activities in South Sudan.

In addition, Kisiya Aired said students should take enough time to study and understand the Bible to get salvation other than wasting a lot of time on computer and Facebook for useless chats with friends and girlfriends.

The students said the training was well organised and enjoyable so they recommended it should be done twice a year and that secondary schools should be included to benefit from the programme.

NICKY FAIRWELL PARTY HELD

By Tabs-Emma

One staff of across who was working as a volunteer secretary has left. This came on Thursday that Nicky has finally come to the end of contract at yei teacher training college.

As a result, her farewell and goodbye party was held at the college library which was attended by all the staffs’ and some selected ministers.

During the party many people expressed their gratitude to her numerous achievements.

Principle YTTC said Nicky Developed annually leave form, the HR manual book, the staffs hand book on how to carry their responsibilities, the staff application form, and website for the college among others because the list is endless.

The deputy principal for administration Mr. Wani Joel and head of music department Mr. Anguaku Peter Rock on their part commented that Nicky was a personal friend to each of them whom they consulted when they are f aced with a problem.

while madam Dusio Rachael expressed her gratitude on behalf of baby Tempo where she commented that Nicky was equally a personal friend to Tempo too because she helped a lot to keep the baby busy and that if Tempo had known that Nicky is leaving he would have cried so much.

The principal later concluded that Nicky contract for six months only in YTTC, the work she did is equivalent to a work which somebody would have done in three years.

The college administration however gave her a map of South Sudan with all the names of the states, photos of the college with it`s activities and a dress which were meant as a good bye gift.

Later in the party photos were taken where ministers sat in different styles to eat and some posed with the whole chicken in their hands ,as a result of this satisfaction they suspended beans for that night and later lamented that being a leader is an interesting thing since you will always be involved in such parties.

WESTERN EQUATORIA DONATES TEACHING PRACTICE MATERIALS

By Baibai Moses

The State Ministry of Education Western Equatorial State provided their students with scholastic materials for school practice.

The materials were brought last week by the chairperson Western Equatoria Students’ Association (WESA) Jackson Gideon.

According to Napoleon Joseph, the materials brought included 60 manila papers, 7 box files, 1dozen of square exercise books which were equally distributed among the 8 Year 2 students from Western Equatoria. Napoleon said the donation comes as a result of a proposal written by the Chairperson Jackson Gidon early in Term 2.

Napoleon commented that this is the first of its kind for the State Minister of Education to donate the scholastic materials to support their students. He concluded that the donation shows the seriousness and progress of the fight against illiteracy in Western Equatorial and wished that the rest of the states should imitate this example to transform illiterate communities into literate ones to ensure nation building.

INSERVICE STUDENTS REFUSED FOOD

By MOMO MONIC

It was on Friday evening that the in-service students refused to take their supper meals without any reason.

But according to reports from them, they refused food because of the missing cases they registered on Friday during lunch, but when they complained to the compound manager, he promised them changes in the evening. Burt in the evening they said the situation was made worse when they got a good amount of posho with small sauce which could only satisfy ten people.

However, they said, some good Samaritans from the pre service students contributed them sauce from the respective families but still the sauce could not divide them all.

However, few of them ate their food, though the largest number refused and later others commented that, “Do not be like the foolish flies who had no adviser and followed the corpse to the grave,” because everyone eats for himself since the rate of feeling hungry differs and who are others to command them not to eat?

As a result, they refused to work the following morning and frankly told their supervisor that they slept hungry and therefore cannot work on a hungry stomach.

This prompted the compound manager to divide them into the respective families since they used to eat two breads two pieces of meat per person but they have been reduced to one bread like the pre-service.

This story to some extend has reduced the budget since they used to eat two breads per person.

THE PRINCIPLE YTTC URGES STUDENTS TO GIVE BACK WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN

By Baibai Moses

Principle YTTC Mr. Kepo James last Thursday 27^th Sep.2012 during the Principle’s Assembly urged the YTTC student teachers to give back when they are given which he refers to as reciprocity.

He then said, in life you will get what you give and asked the students to work hard in order to achieve what they want .He also quoted from the Bible that if you want wisdom, fear God.

The Principle further advised the students to love their profession as a teachers, he told the students that this profession is the source of knowledge to every citizen in this country and said teachers always get respect and honor from community for the service they are delivering.

Furthermore, he asked the students to be exemplary in their societies as they are the eye of the people in South Sudan whereby they are to leave the culture of spitting in public and bathing in open places like in Yei River.

In another development, the Principal said, the students should not wait for everything from the College Administration but to go on with activities like cleaning the compound, slashing, and collection of rubbish around the compound through the help of the Student Guild Council.

In addition to that, he ordered the Guild President H.E. Almarat Musa Almarat to monitor the work of the Council Ministers to ensure proper service delivery especially the Minister for Domestic Affairs and that of Health because they are dealing with lives in the College, if not they have to be replaced immediately.

However, he asked the Guild President to address any challenge affecting the Guild Council or the College to the Administration and not wait for Principle’s Assembly so that it can be put into action without wasting time. He said this when the Guild president H.E. Almarat Musa Almarat mentioned challenges such as broken fence, lack of security lights around the compound and in some latrines and shelters, also rubbish pits have become full , sports equipments are not enough among others.

Lastly, the Principle notified the students that the College is currently doing a lot of developments which take enough money that is to say the Academic Tower, the girls’ dormitory, and the football stadium which will make some of the challenges to be referred to next year.

CROSS HOLDS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

By King Iddy

The organization of ACROSS celebrated its 40^th year anniversary on Friday 28^th 2012 at the College compound.

The celebration ceremony was attended by ACROSS staff, the Bishop of ECS Diocese of Yei, community members, students and the Commissioner of Yei River County who was the Guest of Honor of the occasion.

In the party the Administrative Manager of ACROSS started by explaining the programmes and services offered by ACROSS which include education programmes, Sudan Literature Centre (SLC), Participatory Awakening Process (PAP), Child Ministry, Radio Programme, sports activities among others. As a result of these programsme, many community members gave testimonies on how these programmes transformed their lives.

One of the people who gave a speech was our own God father, the Principal of the College who during his speech told the audience that YTTC has trained over 2,000 teachers who are providing quality education to the people of South Sudan. He cited that across is an eye opener which gives a lot of skills for people to get opportunities. He was further quoted by the journalists that “Let us own the work given by ACROSS“and urged the community to get a third leg to move forward with work.

Meanwhile the Bishop during his speech, expressed emotions on the extra-ordinary work ACROSS has done for the people of South Sudan. He thanked and congratulated ACROSS on behalf of the Christian community and commented that though ACROSS started at a very difficult situation, it grew with the people of South Sudan and suffered persecution like them.

Lastly in his speech, he assured the ACROSS Programmes Coordinator and staff that the Episcopal Church of Sudan wants to assure them that so long as they are here ,they have a place here and therefore urged the community to work with ACROSS for development of South Sudan.

The commissioner was the last speaker of the day. In his speech he thanked and congratulated ACROSS for its tremendous work done citing YTTC as yielding fruit of ACROSS and said that YTTC has transformed the society by giving quality education to the people of South Sudan.

He thanked the church for giving land for ACROSS to establish in Yei and praised the Fly Sports Programme which he said has promoted a peaceful co-existence in Yei through sports which has helped to transform the youth.

He however in his speech concluded by urging ACROSS to become a primary funder not implementer and challenged ACROSS for being a baby by establishing their headquarters in Nairobi. He further commented that ACROSS should transfer its headquarters from Nairobi to Juba, if not ACROSS will continue to remain a child and urged them to secure land for maximum development to continue to make focal attraction in South Sudan since in some three years to come land in Yei will become scarce.

ST. PAUL INAUGRATES NEW PREFECTS

By Chandia Bravil

On Saturday, last week, St. Paul inaugurated new prefects and had S.4 farewell party. The inauguration was attended by representatives from different schools, teachers from various schools, parents and invited guests.

In the inauguration the head boy and the head teacher during their speech complained that they are facing a lot of challenges for example, that the government does not want to support their school and even the government officials don’t pay a visit to inspect it.

Meanwhile the guest of honor during his speech said that; the school acquired its foundation in a right place and encouraged the students to work hard in order to make more than five first grades this year.

He further urged them not to stop in S.4 but to continue up to the possible level God can give them and told the parents to continue supporting their children because education is the key to life.

However, he concluded that the school was founded by the community and up to now the community is the one paying both the students and the teachers. So why do they want the help of the government?

He told the parents to be ready to handle the school under their responsibility since the government is not showing any responsibility.

SU OFFICIALS ARE ASKED TO CO-OPERATE

By Julius Likambu

Scripture Union executive members in Yei Teacher Training College are asked to co-operate among themselves for easy co-ordination of their activities. The call was made by the Patron SU Yei Teacher Training College Mr. Yaka on Friday 5^th of October 2012 when the members are for their 1^st executive meeting since they came to term.

The meeting was organised so as to discuss ways the Union can generate income for the club, how to conduct outreach to schools, the hospital, churches, and the prison, also to plan to resume bible study and do song practice.

The Patron said the College Administration include some of Scripture Union’s programmes like Bible Study to function but the students’ body could not show full interest to participate in the programme.

In addition to that, he said the Bible Study will resume on Thursday the 11^th of October 2012 and asked the students to turn in good numbers to avoid disappointing the organisers of the programme.

The SU members said, they need to glorify the name of God in the College through praises, worshiping and preach the word of God to the student teachers and other people through outreach programmes, so they said, they are to set themselves ready by making song practice at least twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays using the musical instruments to make students turn in good number and conduct Bible Study every week.

After that the chairperson SU Rev. Martin Lumori said the club needs to organise one outreach programme to one of the secondary schools or the hospital in the next coming two weeks.

Lastly, the members discussed that they are to raise funds among themselves as membership fees and the students’ body and the College Administration in form of contribution and pledges. Then, they voted each SU official will pay a membership fee of five (5) South Sudanese pounds every term for smooth running of the Club’s activities.

 A HEAD FAMILY RESIGNED

By Emmanuel Taban

One of the family head who nicknamed himself “Mr. All “has resigned. He claimed that he resigned because of much responsibilities offered to him and also because he was provoked by one member of the family who bullied him by telling him to work like a slave. So he said he must leave the work of being a family head and at least continue with the one of Class Co-coordinator.

For the last two weeks when we had no leader to guide us during service, we were dealing on self service. The family members devised a principle of first come first serve as some load any amount of food they wanted. Taban reported.

In fact we have been ever registering a number of missing cases especially the late comers who always try their luck in the kitchen. Whereby sometimes they do not get anything from the kitchen. He said.

The members said that if he wanted to leave the work of heading the family, they may organise a meeting for him to surrender the one of Class Co-coordinator because the work of heading the family was one that made him popular to succeed in getting the one of Class Co-coordinator.

However the family members further said that, if slave trade still exists, they would sell Mr. All to any willing family.

Actually, the situation was resolved because we organised a meeting and invited our mentor to come and chair the meeting. Then Mr. All was officially downsized on Saturday morning and two new leaders were appointed by the mentor. I think we will not have missing cases now.

Deputy Principal for Administration

Wani Joel is the Deputy Principal for administration at Yei Teacher Training College. He worked for many years in the field of education in different institutions of learning, both in South Sudan and elsewhere, particularly in Uganda where he was in refuge.  

Joel served for six years as a primary school head teacher while in Uganda and two years as Deputy Principal for administration in Kajo-Keji PTC, before joining Yei Teacher Training College in the same position.

Joel has an Education Degree from Ndejje University Uganda, specialising in the teaching of Social Studies and Educational Management in addition to other general foundation subjects.  He also holds a Diploma in Primary Education from Kyambogo University and a Grade 3 Certificate of Education from Erepi Primary Teachers College, Moyo, Uganda.

Joel is hard working, competent and committed to his work.  He has wide knowledge in teaching Social Studies and handling administrative issues.  Joel is capable of managing all staff and student issues very diligently.

YTTC provides a range of services to match with our vision of being a centre for excellence.

Academic Calendar / Student Year

Student Year

Term I       February – April
Term II      June – August
Term III     September – December

Lessons run from 8.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday. Lessons are each 1 hour.

There is a morning break between 9.30-10am and a lunch break between 1-2pm.

Classroom Environment

Accommodation

 Accommodation is available for up to 300 students with three meals a day.

The college is linked to the government grid and has electricity between 7am and midnight; and has a solar system that continue from midnight to 7 am, therefore the college has a 24 hours power supply to facilitate smoothing Learning. there is also a 45KVA generator and a Solar system to ensure no power breakdowns .

Harriet Memorial Hall, One of the Ladies Halls

Digital Satellite Television (DSTV)

In addition to a variety of extra-curricular activities offered at the college, students have access to DSTV.  This enables them to keep abreast of international affairs, as well as have enjoyable entertainment during their leisure time.

Catering Services

We have a team of cooks at the college enabling us to provide all students with three satisfying meals per day, seven days a week.  We provide traditional African foods such as posho, cassava, maize cobs and beans.

YTTC has a system in place whereby students are grouped in families.  The feeding system at the college reflects this, whereby students are served meals as families, as opposed to students lining up and being served individually by the cooks.  Each family has a leader who visits the kitchen and receives the food, so that the meal can be shared as a family.  This teaches students the value of sharing and caring for one another.  If a student is late for meals or is ill in the sick bay/dormitory, family members make sure they keep the share of the absent "brother" or "sister", or even take the food to them.

Health Care

The well-being of our students is very important to the college.  Good health is essential for our students to be able to focus on their studies, enjoy interactions with staff and fellow students and generally benefit from all of the development opportunities that the college provides.  

YTTC provides a nurse on site.  Health care is also available locally at the Martha Clinic and Yei Civil Hospital.

Library

Yei Teacher Training College library services are the nerve centre of academic activities in the college.  The library - which is open to the public - has a range of comprehensive resources for students, tutors and the wider community.

The library is well stocked with around 9000 textbooks consisting of philosophy, psychology, science, religion, geography, language, history, social science education, art, literature, sport, teaching and novels. This breadth of material supports people’s research, teaching and learning needs.

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday: 8.30am - 5.00pm, 8.00pm - 10.30pm

Saturday: 8.00pm - 10.30pm

Sunday: Closed

College Library

ICT & Science Labs

YTTC prides itself on being able to provide our students with modern facilities which can help improve understanding and broaden their learning experience.

We boast one of the very best IT suites in South Sudan. There are 50 computers all equipped with the complete Microsoft Office package. There are also printing, scanning & photocopying facilities.

There is wifi internet access during office hours for our staff and students to use.

YTTC ICT Lab

YTTC also has a new science laboratory complete with gas points for using Bunsen burners, chemicals for experiments and other scientific apparatus.

YTTC Science Lab