A four-year in-service program aimed at training primary school teachers was officially launched in Rumbek under the auspices of the Catholic Diocese and Solidarity with South Sudan.
Speaking at yesterday’s launch, diocesan administrator Fernando Colombo thanked the pioneer trainees for turning up, adding that the training of teachers is one of the major priorities in the process to build the new nation, Good News Radio reported.Fr Colombo encouraged the trainees to persevere throughout the four-year program, adding that the course fulfils the last project of late Bishop Caesar Mazzolari.
Diocesan Education Coordinator Maureen Limer said that the teachers attending the in-service program have been drawn from Rumbek East, West and Central counties and that the training is conducted by members of Solidarity with South Sudan.
Sr. Maureen clarified that the training will follow the new unified curriculum of South Sudan, adding that the teachers who will work hard will receive a certificate from the Government.
Henry Cornoran, who hails from Australia and is in South Sudan for the first time, said the training presents him with an opportunity to learn about the new nation while teaching sciences to the trainees.
Sr Margaret Sheehan, on her part, noted that it would be hard to realize the objectives of the program without the trainees, expressing hope that all of them persevere until the end of the course.
There were 29 participants at the launch and the first session of the four-year long program will last for eight weeks.
The training takes place in Rumbek until classrooms and other relevant facilities are ready at Bishop Mazzolari Training Centre, in Cueibet.