It's 26th October 2024, St Jude’s Smith Campus. A sense of celebration fills the air, and despite the morning chill and cloudy weather the school is abuzz with excitement. In the school arena, students in their immaculate uniforms and blue and yellow graduate ribbons pose for photos with their families, teachers, and sponsors.
Today marks an important day for St Jude’s as 235 Form 4 students, the school’s largest class to date, graduate from their Ordinary Level studies.
Tanzania's education system has three key stages: seven years of primary school from Standard 1 to 7, then four years of secondary school from Forms 1 to 4 in Ordinary Level (O Level) studies, and finally, two years of Advanced Level (A Level) studies at Forms 5 and 6. Schools typically organise a graduation ceremony at the end of each stage, as do St Jude's.
"Attending a graduation ceremony at St Jude's is an experience like no other," says Mr Sangito, St Jude's Assistant Headmaster and a senior event organiser. "It's one of those events that brings together the entire St Jude's community of students, parents, staff, and supporters in celebration," he adds.
But while each graduation is significant and equally celebrated with enthusiasm by the St Jude's community, the Form 4 graduation feels particularly special. At this stage, graduates choose to continue with the final two years of A Levels and specialise in specific subjects or they may pursue an accelerated path to a career by completing a diploma or certificate at college.
"Starting A Level feels like opening a new chapter in my academic journey," says Lilian, St Jude's Form 4 graduate and a host of Inside St Jude's podcast. "I'll be moving to a new campus with new teachers and new uniforms. Plus, I'll be studying more science subjects which is more fitting for my career goals in computer science," she adds.
Meanwhile, Fatuma, another St Jude's graduate and Lilian's co-host at Inside St Jude's podcast, is going for a different route. She is one of the highly motivated graduates who are opting to apply to Beyond St Jude’s Alternative Pathways Program (APP). The APP was established in 2020 for students who decide to pursue a diploma or certificate in college, in lieu of the traditional St Jude’s A Level pathway.
"That's why this graduation means so much," reflects Fatuma. "It's an opportunity to begin exploring my career path in a new setting," she adds.
At St Jude's, 96% of students who begin secondary school education complete Form 4. The school's holistic approach to education ensures students excel beyond academics by developing useful extracurricular skills in sport, art, IT, and public speaking. As a result, they graduate with practical skills that they can apply immediately to positively impact their communities.
"One of our fellow students represented the country at the 2023 Commonwealth of Nations games in athletics while a team from St Jude's emerged the first runner-up at the Tanzania National Debate Championship (TNDC) and East African Schools Debate Championship (EASDC)," said Rahel a Form 4 graduate in the Farewell speech during the ceremony.
In the coming weeks, the graduates will sit for their Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE), a national exam organised by the National Examination Council of Tanzania. In Tanzania, only those who pass the CSEE qualify to proceed to A Levels. Passing these exams also improves college enrolment prospects for students pursuing a diploma course.
Whichever path they choose, a St Jude's scholarship is available to support successful graduates in their next academic step.
Once a year, the entire St Jude's community of 1,800 students and more than 300 staff gathers on one campus to celebrate St Jude's Day. It is one of the biggest and most anticipated events on the school calendar.
There is a lot to explore about St Jude's Day, so here is a quick look at how we celebrate.
What is St Jude's Day?
St Jude's Day is a special day to honour Saint Jude, the patron saint of desperate and lost causes for whom the school is named.
How do we celebrate it?
Over the years, it has been a tradition to celebrate this day as a community. St Jude’s campuses alternate hosting the celebrations; this year was the Sisia Campus’ turn.
What happens on St Jude's Day?
The day's first activity is taking the annual (whole) school photo. A huge logistical effort, everybody assembles on one of the sports fields to pose for a photo, the students lining up from youngest to oldest. A Thanksgiving mass follows, where students and staff present gifts that will later be distributed to the less fortunate in our local community. Afterward, the school enjoys a community lunch, followed by entertainment and special recognition for staff through the St Jude's Spirit program.
When is the next St Jude's Day?
St Jude's Day is observed annually on 28th October. Next year, St Jude's Day will fall on a Tuesday and be hosted by the Smith Campus. It's a perfect day to visit the school and experience the spirit of
St Jude firsthand from our community.
For four straight years, Jordan followed a tight schedule. He started his day at 4am, dedicating the next hour and a half to personal studies. By 6:20am, Jordan was ready to begin the 40-minute walk to school. He would return home around 6:30pm, spending an additional hour and a half after school in group discussions and revisions.
"The government school I attended didn't have enough boarding facilities for all students," explains Jordan. "Nevertheless, I had to do everything I could to pass my national examinations."
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 school are called Advanced Level (A Level), Forms 5 and 6. Students must sit for a series of standardised examinations organised by the government at the end of each stage. Only those that pass may continue onto the next level.
Jordan had to ace his Form 4 national examination to stand a chance of continuing with A Level studies. In 2023, close to 600,000 candidates sat for the exam. With only close to 1,000 A Level schools in the country, a student has to do exceedingly well in the exams to earn a spot in any of these schools.
"Two of my older siblings never made it to A Level," shares Jordan. "I have two younger siblings and my mother back at home. They were all rooting for me because I would be the first one in the family to do so," he adds passionately.
As Jordan approached his national examinations, his mother paid additional accommodation fees so that he could move into a boarding facility close to school. The support from his family and Jordan's hard work eventually paid off. He passed his national examinations with flying colours and was one of the top-performing students at his school!
"It was like a celebration when the results came out," reflects Jordan excitedly. "Everyone was so proud of me and it makes all the effort worth it."
Despite the impressive results, Jordan's path to A Level wasn't guaranteed. The shortage of secondary schools in Tanzania means that not every qualified graduate makes it to the next stage. The only way to get into a government secondary school is through an allocation by the government, which happens several months after the results are announced.
"Missing out on a government school would surely mean the end of the journey for me," says Jordan. "The only other option would be to join a private school, which we couldn't afford. I had done my part, now I had to wait and hope for the best," he adds.
Luckily for Jordan, he didn't need to wait long. His impressive academic results earned him an invitation to apply for an academic scholarship at St Jude's. Jordan jumped at the opportunity. He aced the academic tests and passed the rigorous poverty assessment checks to secure a spot at St Jude's. His strong academic prowess, underprivileged background, and strong character made him an ideal candidate for the scholarship.
"I have only been at St Jude's a few weeks, but it's already made a lasting impression on me. I'm now exploring my curiosity with computers and trying out different activities within the school," says Jordan, who hadn't used a computer before St Jude's.
Jordan is pursuing physics, chemistry, and mathematics in his A Level studies and hopes to become an engineer someday. St Jude's holistic approach to education turns motivated students like Jordan into well-rounded individuals. Provided with a quality learning environment, strong academic program, and robust co- and extracurricular activities, students graduate from St Jude's better equipped to lift their families and communities out of poverty. With his hard work and determination, it's thrilling to imagine how much he'll accomplish in his next two years at St Jude's.
mahafali /mah-hah-fah-lee/ noun
Definition
"Mahafali" is a Kiswahili word that means "graduation" in English. It typically refers to a gathering of people to celebrate an achievement, often related to education.
"Mahafali" is of Arabic origin, derived from "Mahfal," which means "gathering" or "assembly." The adoption of this word into Kiswahili highlights the historical influence of Arabic on the language, particularly due to trade and cultural exchanges along the East African coast in the 8th to 19th centuries.
The use of "mahafali" in Kiswahili aligns with the cultural importance of educational milestones and the ceremonies associated with them. It signifies the completion of academic requirements and a communal celebration of achievement and progress.
It’s a chilly April morning at St Jude’s Smith Campus. There are no classes today. Instead, the campus transformed into a vibrant hub of innovation, the halls filled with tables displaying a huge variety of incredible work from the students. Over in the school’s dining hall, visitors, staff, students, guests, and even a local news station gather for the official opening of St Jude’s 13th Annual Science Day.
“Today is a special day that brings together our entire community to celebrate innovation and creativity,” says Mr Tsingay, St Jude’s Secondary School Headmaster in his opening speech. “Over 50% of our secondary school students are pursuing science subjects. Today, we will see first-hand how they turn their ideas into solutions,” he adds.
Following the opening ceremony, Mr Tsingay invited everyone to explore the diverse projects and engage with the innovators. Projects included generating electricity out of potatoes, an automatic earthquake sensor, a solar-powered mower, a vacuum cleaner, and even a clever mouse trap from St Jude’s primary school students.
“What do you do with your bar of soap when it gets too small?” asks Marko, pitching his soap recycling prototype. “The most common solution is to simply throw it away. But we have developed a soap recycling machine that could save you on resources and money while conserving the environment,” he adds.
Marko then proceeds to demonstrate how his prototype works, which involves grinding the soap leftovers, followed by boiling, chemical disinfection, and eventually cooling the final product into a ‘new’ bar of soap.
Since the first Science Day 13 years ago, students have set the bar higher and higher, coming up with innovative and creative solutions to challenges that they or their communities encounter in real life. At this year’s Science Day, students have capitalised on the rise of technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop customised and highly efficient prototypes.
One such project is the “Bean Sorting Machine” designed to reduce workload for farmers by automating the painstaking process of sorting and cleaning crops.
“One of the biggest challenges for farmers is maintaining the quality of their products through an efficient and consistent sorting process,” says Veronica, one of the innovators of the project. To address the challenge, Veronica and her team designed and built a machine that could efficiently sort up to 150 kilograms in an hour.
“Potential updates to our machine include incorporating AI and laser technology to improve its efficiency in removing impurities,” explains Veronica.
Another highlight of the day was the creative application of art in conserving the environment through the recycling and reusing of waste products. Students turned discarded plastics, worn-out clothes, and even wood scraps into decorative items in a beautiful “trash-to-treasure” display.
The Science Day is a platform from which our students demonstrate their keen understanding of science principles to address problems they see around them, and we have seen outstanding ideas emerge from this school event over the years. This year’s Science Day was partly sponsored by Edgar, an award-winning St Jude alum and founder of a start-up that recycles plastic waste into useful construction materials. Edgar showcased his prototype of plastic bricks at a St Jude’s Science Day as a student and continued to refine his idea to eventually launch his own company.
“When we started the Science Day competition 13 years ago, most projects were just made out of wood and glass” reflects Mr Mcharo, St Jude’s Academic Senior Manager. “Today, our students are demonstrating working models and turning their ideas to businesses. It’s a testament to the power of innovation and the opportunities brought alive by St Jude’s holistic approach to education,” he adds proudly.
One of the most enduring cultures at St Jude’s is the spirit of compassion and helping those in need. Throughout the year, students and staff support the community in various ways.
“Every other weekend, our students are out volunteering at an orphanage, cleaning the marketplace, or sharing their skills and knowledge with students from neighbouring schools,” says Focus, a staff and mentor of Interact Club at the school.
This year, St Jude’s launched another impactful initiative to support the community, particularly patients in need of blood transfusion. In March, the school introduced a bi-annual blood donation drive for eligible staff and students to voluntarily participate.
“We saw the need to step in and help local hospitals around our communities replenish their blood banks,” says Irene, who helped organise a recent blood drive at St Jude’s. “From medical emergencies and accidents, to supporting mothers during childbirths, our hospitals could always use the extra blood units,” she adds.
The first round saw 81 volunteers, including students at St Jude’s Girls’ Secondary School and staff participate in the blood drive. The turnout was so good that it earned St Jude’s special recognition from Arusha’s largest referral hospital as the biggest blood donation drive by a single institution in its history.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” says Irene excitedly. “We only had a few weeks to organise the drive and had initially estimated the blood drive to only take a few hours. In the end, it lasted the entire day! It was wonderful to see the St Jude’s community coming together once again in support of such an impactful program,” she adds.
The blood donation drive was a collaborative effort between St Jude's welfare and academic teams, with support from Arusha's biggest referral hospital.
"We wanted to ensure that the drive was organised efficiently," says Irene. “The hospital helped organise an information session for our students and staff ahead of the drive and the school arranged a special lunch for everyone who donated their blood,” she adds.
Fatuma, one of the talented hosts of our monthly podcast, was one of the 63 students at St Jude’s Girls’ Secondary School who participated in the blood drive. Beyond the podcast, she is an incredible athlete aspiring to become a P.E. teacher and understands the importance of donating blood in saving lives.
“I first learned from my sister, who is a nurse, that blood can be used to help people, particularly mothers during childbirth,” says Fatuma. “So when this opportunity arrived, I immediately volunteered,” she adds excitedly.
It’s also quite fitting that the record-setting blood drive happened at St Jude’s Girls’ Secondary School during a month dedicated to celebrating women. Soon, St Jude’s will conduct another blood drive at Smith Campus and continue supporting local hospitals with extra blood. It’s part of a new tradition at St Jude’s where students and staff unite to save lives.