Attending a graduation ceremony at St Jude’s is an experience like no other. It’s a day of pride and celebration, representing years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. St Jude’s hosts three graduation ceremonies a year, corresponding to the three main levels of the Tanzanian school system, and a recognition ceremony for its alumni finishing their tertiary education.
The three key stages of school in Tanzania consist of seven years of primary school from Standard 1 to 7, then four years of secondary school from Form 1 to 4 in Ordinary Level (O Level) studies, and finally, the final two years of secondary school, Forms 5 and 6 in Advanced Level (A Level) studies. A graduation ceremony marks the end of each stage as students progress to the next phase of their academic journey.
While each graduation is a memorable occasion, the Form 6 graduation holds a special significance as it marks the transition to higher education in universities and colleges.
“It’s been a wonderful journey, and we leave St Jude’s with lovely memories,” says Andrea, Form 6 graduate, in his farewell speech on graduation day. “The achievements we’ve made demonstrate how exceptional our time here has been,” he adds.
With 200 graduates, the 2024 Form 6 cohort was the second-largest group to graduate from St Jude’s. Their outstanding accomplishments include winning several national and international sports and essay writing competitions, excelling in regional and zonal exams, and pioneering impactful initiatives that are gaining recognition in the greater community.
“We stand here today as a testament to how we’ve fulfilled the school’s mission,” says Andrea. “We hope to achieve even greater things because of what has been invested in us throughout our time at St Jude’s,” he adds.
Completing secondary education is a remarkable achievement for students in Tanzania. However, several socio-economic barriers still hinder many students, particularly females, from completing secondary education. Existing gender disparities in enrolment and high dropout rates mean that only 27% of Tanzanian girls who start A Level, reach Form 6 graduation.
At St Jude's, however, all secondary school students receive 100% free, quality education, which includes safe boarding accommodation, nutritious meals, extracurricular programs, and more. The school’s holistic approach to education and promotion of gender equality ensures girls excel academically and in other areas. As a result, the school consistently maintains a 100% completion rate for all secondary school students.
“One of our girls made it to the top 10 of the regional mock examinations, another invented a bean sorting machine that won first place on Science Day, and still another launched an initiative to support government school students with sanitary pads,” Noreen proudly shared at the graduation speech.
The 2024 graduation ceremony was particularly special as it was the 10th Form 6 graduation in St Jude’s history. Fittingly, it recorded the highest number of international visitors in attendance – over 90—in addition to more than 100 local guests, board members, alumni, and government officials. Among them was Mark Cubit, chairperson of the Australian board, Pat Sutliff, from our American Friends of The School of St Jude board, and David Stellar, who helped build the first three classrooms at St Jude’s more than 20 years ago.
“From little things, big things grow. And as you can see all around you, St Jude’s is changing lives as personified by the graduating class,” says David, as he reflects on the 20+ year journey of St Jude’s.
The next step for the graduates is pursuing higher education at various universities and colleges. Most opt to apply to the Beyond St Jude’s Scholarship Program (BSJSP), which supports graduates with tertiary education.
As part of the BSJSP, the selected graduates will undertake Community Service placements, volunteering as teachers in understaffed government schools, or at various placements throughout St Jude's. Then they go on to access higher education supported by St Jude's sponsors and donors.
Whichever path they choose, we know our graduates will personify the school’s vision of an educated community of moral and intellectual leaders, fighting poverty in Tanzania.
I teach physics and chemistry at St Jude’s Girls’ Secondary School and mentor 40 students in the Science and Innovation Club.
I love sharing my passion for science and inspiring others to explore the wonders of the natural world. As a teacher, I get to see my students achieve their dreams just like I did and that brings me a lot of joy and fulfilment.
I help students bring their creative ideas to life! We have a special focus on solution-based projects that use innovation to tackle challenges within the community. The students are very clever and mentoring them is truly an honour.
We have a few interesting projects. One of the prototypes from the Innovation Club, an automatic stamping machine, won the overall second place at the recent Science Day at St Jude’s. Another one, a clothes-drying machine, won first place in the physics category.
I hope to see more girls getting into STEM-related fields. Technology and innovation have the potential to revolutionise many industries in the future and it would be great to have more females leading that change.
One of the most awaited days at The School of St Jude, Sisia Campus is the Public Speaking Grand Final Competition. Talented members of the public speaking clubs at primary school compete fiercely to get the number one spot.
Tami, a confident Standard 6 student is one of the finalists in this year's competition. "I believe if one expresses his or her thoughts without fear, they can be a source of change for their community," she says.
"I began to realise my talent for public speaking in Standard 4, which provided me with ample opportunities to hone my skills further. During my free hours, I avidly read and learn from influential speakers, leading me to join the Debate Club," reflects Tami.
St Jude’s has been at the forefront of nurturing students' talents through a wide range of skills and activities, including public speaking. Public speaking competitions are typically conducted across all three campuses, allowing students to share their perspectives and expand their horizons.
Tami's exceptional speaking abilities have earned her the position of Head Girl at St Jude’s Primary School and the first spot in the public speaking competition.
With aspirations of becoming a teacher, Tami hopes to teach subjects like science, English, and art. She envisions guiding the next generation to seek opportunities, much like her educational experience at St Jude’s, which helped her discover her public speaking talent and will enable her to inspire future generations.
Agape, another competent public speaker at St Jude’s, reflects on her journey, "I never expected to stand in front of people and speak to them without fear."
Agape, who is currently in Standard 3, aspires to become a doctor and recognises the importance of public speaking skills in achieving her dreams. She joined the Public Speaking Club to develop this skill and appreciates the guidance and mentorship of her teachers.
"I love that our teachers at school guide and support us. They give us a chance to bring out our talents," says Agape who came in second to Tami in the competition.
Right from the early stages of primary education, students are encouraged to cultivate their speaking skills in front of their peers. To guide these young minds is Mr Edmund, a teacher at St Jude’s Primary School who is particularly keen on developing students’ public speaking skills. He mentors and coordinates the Public Speaking Club at the primary school.
"In the club, we take pride in having incredibly talented students who consistently bring forth new and creative ideas during our regular meetings and club sessions,” says Mr Edmund.
“Witnessing this young generation's determination to nurture their talents motivates me, and I have no regrets about choosing a career in education," he adds with a smile.
Public speaking is a powerful tool for students to effectively articulate their thoughts and ideas, build confidence and practice leadership. St Jude's remains committed to providing quality education to students like Tami and Agape, the future leaders of Tanzania, eager to bring about positive changes in their communities and make a difference in the world.
Every July, St Jude’s Secondary School is graced with new students eager to start their A Level studies. Sporting their new, brightly coloured school uniforms and typically walking in clusters, they stand out from their seasoned schoolmates. Among them is Saumu, an ambitious Form 5 student whose dreams and ambitions have found their perfect home at the school.
“Coming to St Jude’s was a dream come true for me,” Saumu says passionately. “I have been hearing good things about the school for many years. So, being here means a lot to me and my family,” she adds excitedly.
In Tanzania, there are two key stages to secondary schooling; the first four years of secondary school are called Ordinary Level (O Level) studies; from Form 1 to Form 4 and the final two years of secondary schooling are called Advanced Level (A Level); from Form 5 and 6.
Every year, St Jude’s awards full academic scholarships to the highest-performing primary and secondary school students from disadvantaged backgrounds through a fair and thorough scholarship application process. Hundreds of potential candidates from government schools across four regions in northern Tanzania are invited to apply for a scholarship at St Jude’s and subsequently go through a series of written and oral examinations and poverty assessments.
“The first time I applied for a scholarship at St Jude’s was in 2019 when I had just completed my primary education,” recalls Saumu. “I was the top performer from my school in the national exams and was pleasantly surprised when I also got invited to apply for a scholarship at St Jude’s!” she adds.
Unfortunately, Saumu didn’t get a scholarship on that occasion. Undeterred by the setback, she worked hard in school and four years later, she was invited again to apply for a scholarship at St Jude’s.
“You don’t always get second chances in life,” reflects Saumu. “So, when I came in for my second attempt, I gave it my all and passed through all the stages!” she adds excitedly.
Saumu is among 66 students who joined St Jude’s Secondary School for the first time in July. She is still adapting to her new school and has so far joined a public speaking club, and is excited to improve her English with the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at St Jude’s.
“Coming to a new school like this can be an overwhelming experience,” says Mr Elia, a teacher at St Jude’s Secondary School. “So, we have a system that guides and helps new students settle in and cope with the environment,” he adds.
Mr Elia is the Level Coordinator of Form 5. In this role, he looks after all aspects of the class; from academics to non-academics, to discipline matters, and how they cope in the new environment.
“Soon after reporting to school, we organise a one-week orientation for all students joining our campus,” says Mr Elia. “During this week, we introduce them to the entire school leadership structure, including teachers and student leaders. We also show them around the school and all the important places,” he adds.
The supportive environment at St Jude’s coupled with the school’s huge resources helps new students settle in quickly. In only a matter of a few months, most students would have already found their favourite sport, extra-curricular activity, and favourite subjects.
A good example of this is Nuhu, a Form 1 student who joined St Jude’s from a government school in January this year. In just a few months, he is now one of the top performers in his class, has secured a starting spot on his class football team and performed in a cultural competition earlier this year!
“When I first came in, I was blown away at how big the school was,” says Nuhu. “I thought it was going to take me a year to find my way around!” he adds with a smile.
Both Nuhu and Saumu are the first members of their family to reach secondary school. Prior to getting a scholarship at St Jude’s, they were both at risk of not continuing with advanced secondary education due to cost demands. With a scholarship at St Jude’s, their future is now secured thanks to the generous donations of sponsors around the world.
As any adult will know, there’s a lot that goes into creating a career. Subject choices, study, diplomas, degrees, internships, maybe even starting a business – it can all be very confusing!
Fortunately, for secondary students at The School of St Jude, weekly Career Guidance classes are helping pave the way to future careers. Students receive advice about subject selection, higher education and tertiary institutions so they can make informed plans.
“Our students come from considerably poor backgrounds. They are not exposed to all industries and career paths,” explains Irene, who works in Career Guidance for both students and alumni.
As a result, a major part of Career Guidance is simply making students aware of the career options available to them. When they’re exposed to the different options, students can discover a career that suits their interests, strengths and goals.
As the saying goes, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see,’ so the Career Guidance team invites a variety of professionals to share their experience with students.
“Bringing mentors who have been successful in their careers, whether they are doctors, journalists, lawyers, or entrepreneurs, helps our students to affirm their career choices,” says Irene.
These mentors are the focus of the school’s annual Careers Day, where secondary students have the opportunity to participate in seminars with mentors from inside and outside St Jude’s.
"We always ask students which career path they want to pursue and bring in professionals from those fields to inspire and motivate them on what to do, what subjects to take, and everything they need to know to excel in those fields," says Mr Elibariki, Career Counsellor at St Jude's Secondary School.
During the event, students are grouped in different clusters based on their interests and matched with a mentor for a briefing and question-and-answer session.
Mr Elibariki recalls, “In 2021, we had 8 industry clusters with more than 19 professional speakers.”
At the upcoming 2022 Careers Day, to be held at St Jude’s Girls’ Secondary School, students will again have the opportunity to hear fromspeakers and ask questions. This year, for the first time, the sessions will be recorded to allow students to refer to them in the future.
In recent years, St Jude’s alumni have been a wonderful resource for the Career Guidance team to inspire current students. Since the tertiary graduation of the first 24 Beyond St Jude’s scholars in 2019, alumni have been sharing their experience of university life, study and entering employment with their younger counterparts.
St Jude's alumni are employed in a wide variety of fields, from engineering to community development, information technology to accounting, teaching to marketing.
With the expert advice of the Career Guidance team and the inspiring example of more than 950 alumni before them, St Jude’s students are certainly receiving thorough preparation for their future careers. In a few short years, the students now in Mr Elibariki’s classes will be the young professionals Tanzania needs.
The School of St Jude has a vision for its students; an educated community of moral and intellectual leaders, fighting poverty in Tanzania. To make this vision a reality, St Jude's instils leadership skills in students from an early age, nurturing responsible and confident individuals.
One emerging leader is Diana, Head Girl at St Jude’s Secondary School.
She says, “St Jude’s helps develop our leadership skills by providing and attending seminars and workshops inside and outside the campus. It also gives us the opportunity to exercise our leadership in different platforms.”
“The leadership positions are not just handed to us. We have to go through an election. Anyone passionate about being a leader takes the form. Then, we go through an interview with the electoral committee, we run campaigns, then we go for elections,” Diana explains.
The election process for the student leaders is open and fair. Interested students put their names forward and run for the available positions. Thereafter, students elect candidates who they think have what it takes to lead them.
"Leading means being a role model for others. As a result, I’ve become a more responsible individual who works hard to succeed and achieve my academic goals," Diana adds.
Each of St Jude’s three schools has its own student leaders. At St Jude’s Primary School and St Jude’s Secondary School, there is a Head Girl, Head Boy and a variety of other prefects. At St Jude’s Girls’ Secondary School, it’s a little different, with a Head Girl, General Secretary and other prefects.
Goodluck, Head Boy at St Jude’s Secondary School, appreciates the way that St Jude's encourages students to become future leaders. “From the beginning, as we enter the school’s gates, the school shows faith in us and believes that one day we will become great leaders of this country,” he says.
“In my opinion, a good leader should be self-motivated and self-disciplined. They must also have influence, be able to mobilise others to do good and be determined,” Goodluck shares.
Leadership plays a key role in a holistic St Jude’s education. More than that, the school hopes that by equipping students with leadership skills, they’ll go on to become leaders in their communities, sharing the skills and knowledge they gain at St Jude’s.
Step by step, St Jude’s is coming closer to its vision; a community of moral and intellectual leaders, fighting poverty in Tanzania.
