By Emmanuel Mandella

The Maridi National Teachers’ Training Institute in Western Equatoria State on Tuesday kickstarted the new academic calendar in style, welcoming 100 new students to its various disciplines of study

The new academic calendar kicked off with 100 first-year students, while 132 are continuing students in the second and third year.

Addressing the students, Jackson Ramandan, the Principal of the Institute, described the school as “a national hub for excellence, built on professionalism and diversity.

 “This institute has the potential to transform education in South Sudan, but without access to clean and reliable water, our dream could dry up,” he said.

 “We urgently appeal to the Ministry of General Education, State authorities, and all development partners to help us solve this before we are forced to shut down, even temporarily,” Ramadan told the gathering.

However, Mr. James Benson, Acting Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Institute, congratulated the new students and described the opening as a pivotal moment for South Sudan’s education system.

“Teaching is a calling, not just a job. It’s a living profession, your work will be remembered by generations long after you’ve left the classroom,” Benson said.

Meanwhile, James Baibai, the County Director of Sanitation and Hygiene, urged students to uphold discipline and maintain the peaceful atmosphere that defines Maridi.

The event also featured the launch of a new computer laboratory, a milestone welcomed with enthusiasm by students.

“The computer lab is a game-changer. It gives us access to internet resources and research tools that go far beyond our outdated textbooks,” said Josephine James, a first-year student.

On his part, Paulino Dolel, a second-year student, said, “With these computers, we can now learn from global educational materials, keeping us up to date and better prepared for modern teaching.”