The funding for these
refurbishments has been largely met by external agencies. This investment
together with the quality of the management team and instructors has
enabled the college to double its size and to become recognised as a
centre of excellence in Southern Sudan. In 2007, the College was
registered as an educational institution by the Ministry of Education for
Central Equatoria.
The first intake of 46 students
started at the College in March 2004. These included demobilised child
soldiers as well as returnees. Over the next two years the
college doubled in size, new facilities were built and more than 80
students graduated, the majority of whom found employment.
In addition, the college has
developed a craft centre that provides employment for 50 women, a
micro-enterprise scheme helping a further 1200 women and a manufacturing
section, making furniture such as school desks. The college has also
assisted with the building of a classroom block for a local Primary
School.
This year the College offers five full time
courses and some other short courses to a total of 140 students. In 2010,
this number should rise to over 200.
College Profile
The College now offers five
courses which are run by experienced local instructors. The courses
offered are:
·
Vehicle mechanics and maintenance and
driving instruction - 36 students
·
Building - 22 students
·
Carpentry - 20 students
·
Electrical installation - 22 students
·
Plumbing, water and sanitation – 20
students
Training is a combination of
classroom theory and practical work on site, with an
instructor:student ratio of 1:10.
In addition to the five one-year
vocational courses that the college offers, the College has expanded its
work to provide employment for former students. The college successfully
tenders for contracts to supply desks and chairs to schools, NGOs, local
business and government. In addition a limited service for vehicle
maintenance and driving lessons is provided on a commercial basis.
The most popular course is Mechanics and Driving,
with over 90% of students passing their driving test at the first attempt.
Staff
Instructors are principally
recruited locally and supplemented by Ugandan staff where the required
skills are not available in the area. A number of the instructors are
graduates of the College who have then gone on to further training before
returning to the college to teach. Each instructor has been selected not
only for their competence in their field of instruction but on their
ability to communication with and motivate their students.
Constitution and Board
The constitution for the College
was adopted in 2004. The Board of Trustees is chaired by the Bishop of
the Diocese of Yei. The Board recognises the need to recruit and retain
Board members with appropriate experience and skills.
The College Management Team is led by the College
Principal, Canon John Kanyikwa, assisted by the Deputy Principal, Logulomo
Morris. The Management Team meets monthly and provides regular
management and financial reports for the Board.
