New facilities boost Tambura Primary School’s enrolment to 1,000 children

From 634 children, Tambura Primary School has succeeded in increasing its enrolment to 1,000 children this year. This is credited to the relentless campaign done by the trained community leaders, school personnel and volunteers who now understand the importance of education, especially for girls, in Tambura County, a part of World Vision’s Western Equatoria Zone.

Cecilia, a six-years old student in primary one class says, “My father now helps me do my homework. They sent my two elder sisters to Juba for better schools and I will also go once I reach primary 4”. She loves calling herself “zol hala” which represents her dream to become a future health worker.

“We used to sit on the dusty floor but now we are comfortable because World Vision provided us with desks. We are waiting for the completion of the new class rooms because it rains the classes are also affected”, she shares.

Gisma, five years old, aspires to become a teacher like Jonina Phillip in future. She said when she becomes a teacher she will work hard so many girls attend school. “My mother said any girl who does not go to school will have less opportunities. I want all girls to go to school and get better treatment”, Gisma says.

The school with 639 students has nine teachers and only one is a woman. The head teacher Jacob Hillary Mbiko, Jonina Philip, the school officer and the Daniel Mario senior teacher said World Vision has supported the school with the construction of the two blocks with eight classrooms and an office for the teachers.

World Vision also supplied the desks, training of the members of the parents and teacher association (PTA) and the in-service training of the head teacher until 2020. Jacob says he learned the new methods of teaching and shared them with the teachers. They are optimistic that with the completion of the new classrooms, the enrolment will increase beyond 1000 children.

With the improved facilities, Jacob said the passing rate in 2018 was 98 percent. But the school struggles with clean drinking water and a playground for the children. The PTA and the Senior Management Committee collect a (monthly, annually??) registration fee to support some of the school’s needs such as stationary materials, chairs and tables for the teachers. They also maintain cleanliness and safety and cultivate gardens.

The Japan Platform (JPF) supported this World Vision initiative of classrooms construction and an office for the teachers and the head teacher, new toilets, as well as other facilities. World Vision’s Technical Education Advisor said that with the new classrooms, PTA leaders and teachers have a good challenge of bringing in more children to school.

Story and photos by Scovia Faida Charles Duku, Communications Officer.