(ARUSHA, November 26, 2013) Thousands of Form 4’s across Tanzania are a step closer to adulthood after graduating at the weekend.
St Jude’s students celebrating at their graduationMore than 130 graduates from The School of St Jude received their certificates at a special ceremony on Saturday, November 23rd. It is the second lot of students who have completed Form 4 at St Jude’s and they recently sat the national exams, which determines if they can go on to do their A levels.
Many of the students have been studying at the large charity-funded school, since close to when it began in 2002. They receive a free, high quality education and learn a wide range of subjects including Maths, English, Science, Kiswahili, Social Science and Music. Next year, they’ll choose to study specialist subjects, as they prepare for university.
“I’m hoping that most of them will complete their secondary education and then go on to university, to great careers or into different fields, and they are then in a position to give back to their country,” said St Jude’s School Director, Jon Ford. “They have great potential. Some will be great engineers, some will be great doctors and some will be great businessmen and women. What’s really important is that they remember where they came from and that they give back to their families and to their communities.”
St Jude’s students are focused on their academic studies but they also love doing community work like visiting orphanages and tutoring younger children in their community.
“I feel proud of myself as a Form 4 graduate and I thank the school for supporting us from the time we started O level up to now when we’re finished. I’m just proud to be a graduate,” said Olavip, a Form 4 student.
A highlight of the event was when the students gave out awards to St Jude’s staff that inspired them, which included teachers, cooks and drivers.
“I feel so happy to graduate because I was really waiting for this day,” said Queen, a Form 4 student.
In 2015, St Jude’s will celebrate another exciting milestone when its first set of students will graduate from the school.
