Every year, hundreds of new students enrol at St Jude's on full scholarships at the primary, lower- and upper-secondary levels across our three campuses. The scholarship application process is competitive and involves academic testing that considers the financial and social situation at home. Our Community Relations team oversees this entire process, with the help of the whole St Jude’s community. The team also handles student health and welfare, parent portfolio, and home visits.
"The students that attend St Jude's are from families who could not have otherwise afforded private school education," explains Philip, Community Relations Manager at St Jude's. "Providing free, quality education goes a long way in ensuring that children from such families have a future in which they thrive, effectively breaking the cycle of poverty."
While free, quality education is a proven path out of poverty for our students' families, other challenges could prevent students from achieving their goals. According to St Jude's poverty assessment data, most, if not all, of our students' families do not have health insurance and never go for regular health check-ups. It is common for household members to visit a health centre or hospital only when they fall seriously ill or when home remedies fail. This lack of preventive care increases the risk of undiagnosed health complications that may go unnoticed for extended periods.
"That's why at St Jude's, we conduct annual health checks for all students, including newly enrolled and continuing students. A team of international and local medical professionals and volunteers spend two weeks at the school performing comprehensive health assessments. These checks provide recommendations that help us better understand our students' health needs and tailor our support systems accordingly," says Philip.
One significant intervention made possible by the health checks involved a student, Fatuma, a recent graduate of St Jude's Girls' Secondary School. During her initial health check, the medical team detected a hearing problem that her family had been unaware of. The St Jude's Health and Welfare team collaborated with her family to address the issue, allowing Fatuma to continue her studies freely.
"Without the health checks, it's unlikely that we would have detected the problem and addressed it in time," reflects Fatuma's father, Abubakari, a single parent of three children. "Since my family does not have health insurance and never go for regular check-ups, these assessments were the only means for me to know what was wrong with my daughter and seek medical help."
Annually since 2010, St Jude's has been conducting health checks for its students. The program has evolved based on feedback from the school, the Health Check team, and knowledge of available health services in the region. With a shared understanding that healthy students learn more effectively, these health checks focus on identifying health and wellbeing issues that could impact students' ability to learn individually and collectively.
The Health Check team provides specific advice to parents regarding their children and general recommendations to the school based on observed health trends.
"As a school, we take proactive steps to support students who need special attention," says Gloria, Health and Welfare Officer at St Jude's. "These measures include dietary adjustments, regular sessions with the school counsellor, and other personalized interventions. My team works closely with parents to ensure students remain in peak health and that any health concerns are addressed promptly."
Beyond dedicated health and welfare programs, the school promotes positive student well-being through nutritious meals, physical education, extracurricular activities, a full-time school counsellor, and structured rest periods. A St Jude's scholarship goes beyond tuition and academic support—it ensures the success of future Tanzanian leaders through a truly holistic approach that prioritises education and well-being.
| In 2002 | In 2025 |
| Three students | 1,800 primary and secondary school students on full scholarships and 360 scholars being supported in higher education. |
| One volunteer teacher | 101 teachers, all Tanzanians. 300+ staff altogether, 98% local. |
| One campus | Three campuses. Boarding accommodation for all secondary students. |
| One classroom | 101 classrooms in addition to 12 IT labs, 3 dining halls, 11 science labs, over 30 sports fields and halls, an art gallery and much more. |
| A big dream to bring the opportunity of free, quality education to children living in poverty. | Living the dream. Hundreds of graduates return to their communities as leading professionals, entrepreneurs, and transformational leaders. |
Scholarship Application Process and Welcoming New Students
We are excited to welcome new students to St Jude’s in 2024 following an extensive scholarship application process. It’s no small feat!
Alumni
Beyond St Jude’s (BSJ) is bigger and better than ever! With growing placements in our Community Service Year (CSY) Program and increasing opportunities for international scholarships, 2023 was a huge success for the BSJ team and scholars.
Infrastructure and Development
And didn’t stop there! We also did a lot of work on campus to ensure the best facilities for our students including…
Every year, over 3,000 high-achieving students from government schools apply for a scholarship at The School of St Jude. The scholarship process is rigorous to ensure that our limited spaces are fairly awarded to students are on a transparent and consistent basis.
Allocating scholarships is a delicate balancing act as we want to ensure those in the most need received fair opportunity. Each applicant must pass through three phases including the Scholarship Application Day, Poverty Assessments and the probation period.
These stages are carefully designed, providing plenty of aspects to explore. Today we will take a deeper dive into the third stage – the probation period. This part of the process spans a two-week period where potential students enter a St Jude’s classroom to be closely assessed by St Jude’s Primary School’s academic and leadership teams.
Academic assessments
After each week of St Jude’s classes with our primary teachers, students participate in assessment on three subjects; arithmetic, health and environment and English language. These tests help St Jude’s to select students who outperform their peers and demonstrate a high level of academic promise.
Behavioural assessments
Two teachers are selected to observe and record the student’s behaviour, discipline and attitude during these two weeks at school. This assessment contributes to the decision-making as we look for students who demonstrate the school values of Respect, Honesty, Kindness and Responsibility.
Further poverty assessments
After Probation classes are complete, successful students and their families undergo further poverty assessments, which are conducted by our Community Relations team and Parents Committee. A student is finally offered a scholarship on the one of the most special days of the St Jude’s Calendar, Uniform Day!
21 years ago, on 29 January 2002, The School of St Jude welcomed its very first class.
On that first day, there were just three students, taught by a single volunteer teacher, Angela Bailey.
Within weeks the school had grown, so that by 2003 there were 120 students.
Over the years, more students were granted scholarships, more land was purchased, more classrooms built, boarding houses opened and a second school started, then a third. Students graduated from primary school, then secondary and started university with the support of St Jude’s.
From humble beginnings, St Jude’s grew and grew, with the support of an international community of supporters. Today, St Jude’s educates 1,800 students, employs over 300 staff and supports more than 300 scholars at college and university.
In all the excitement and nerves of that first day in 2002, who could have predicted what St Jude’s would achieve by 2023?
“What makes a good board member?… interesting choice of question,” ponders Ms Bernadette, Chairperson for the Secondary School Board at Smith Campus.
Sitting on her porch, relaxed and poised, Ms Bernadette shares her experience.
“I’m a retired public officer. I worked as an education administrator in the government for 41 years and I believe with this background and experience, I have been privileged to chair the board at Smith Campus since 2017,” she says with a smile.
The School of St Jude complies with statutory requirement by operating under three boards; Primary School Committee for the registered primary school and Secondary School Board for each of the registered secondary schools at St Jude’s. These bodies are made up of staff, parents and local community representatives and professionals from different background.
“I remember I was one of the three people who cut the cake when Gemma first opened the school gates back in 2002. It was a really special day for me and especially for Gemma,” she chuckles.
“I was the District Education Officer then so oversaw many schools in my district and was excited to see a new school opening for our community,” she adds.
With a background in education, Ms Bernadette has been a great asset to the school, leading the board with passion, firm principles and making sure the school adheres to Tanzania education policy.
“My role as the St Jude’s Secondary Board Chairperson is to make sure that the meetings are held on time. We are supposed to have four meetings a year… two board meetings and two committee meetings,” Ms Bernadette explains.
“Some of the key points of discussion when we meet include secondary school systems,” Ms Bernadette explains,
“We make sure that systems are followed and run properly as we work towards our mission of giving bright, poor Tanzanian students a free, quality education so they can break the cycle of poverty in their communities,” she adds.
The Secondary School Board, of which Ms Bernadette is Chair, ensure that the school’s mission and policies are followed, and make recommendations in relation to Tanzanian Education Policy and ensure the enforcement of the Child Protection Policy to the Tanzania based board of non-governmental organisation (NGO) Directors overseeing the whole project. They also support the management and ensure that strategic goals are being achieved within specific timeframes.
The NGO Board then liaises with our international charity boards both in Australia (SOSJ Ltd Australia) and America (AFOSJ).
“What makes a good chairperson is attending board and other meetings on time and always thinking of the benefit you bring to the school.
“Any good leader must have a vision. You need to see where that vision is heading and walk towards that goal. And that’s what keeps me going to continue serving the board,” she adds.
Agreeing with Ms Bernadette is Professor Lucky, who serves as a board member for the Secondary School Board at Smith Campus. He believes any good leader must have a vision and must be able to empower the people working with them.
Being a finance and accounting expert, Professor Lucky advises and shares his financial knowledge with the school's management and board to ensure full financial compliance.
“My role as a board member is to advise the board on various issues, including financial matters, governance and leadership of the school,” says Professor Lucky.
Professor Lucky, who is also an author of various books about finance and accounting, believes a combination of skills is key in maintaining a good board.
“When you meet at board level, you’re multiple skills and experience give you the know-how to advice in different areas,” he advises.
Both Professor Lucky and Ms Bernadette have been active members of the Secondary School Board at Smith Campus for years and their stewardship together with other members of their board has set the direction in sustaining and achieving St Jude’s mission.
