Education Link

• Parochial giving (from churches and organisations in the diocese)
• Private donations
• Services where a Bishop presides (such as confirmations)

We are charged with supporting the following:-

• Theological education—this means in the 5 Provincial theological colleges, and the theological education by extension programme (TEE).
• Education in ECS schools.
• Youth work.

Learn About the Five ECS Provincial Theological Colleges - click on the links below 

Bishop Ngalamu College - Mundri
Bishop Shokai College - Omdurman
Bishop Allison College – Arua
Renk College – Renk
New Bishop Gwynne College - Juba

How do we do this?

Theological education – our focus is on supporting the 5 Provincial Theological Colleges to either gain, or maintain, accreditation to the diploma course from St. Paul’s University, Limuru, Kenya. Bishop Gwynne College in Juba is now in its second year of teaching the Limuru Diploma. It is essential that the growing church in Sudan has well qualified priests who are also leaders within their own communities.

Education in ECS schools – There is a huge demand for more schools to meet the needs of both Basic (Primary) and secondary age children. As a Link we cannot fund the building of schools, or the salaries of staff. What we can do is to support teacher training in order to ensure that those who do receive schooling are being taught by qualified teachers.

We also actively encourage, and support, links between our own diocesan schools and ECS schools.

Youth work – we focus on two specific projects to support youth work within Sudan.
- One is to give money to SOMA to enable a regional youth leaders conference / workshop to take place annually in Sudan. We also try to encourage one or two people from  our diocesan to attend these conferences.
- The other is to bring two Sudanese youth leaders to the Salisbury diocese for a period of up to six months every two years. Visa restrictions have prevented this happening for the last two years but we will resume this project when the visa issue has been resolved.

Our budget for 2012 is as follows:-

• ECS schools—training for diocesan schools coordinators         £10,000
• Training of Secondary school science teachers                        £  2,000
• Theological colleges                                                              £12,000
• SOMA youth conferences                                                      £  3,000
• Theological commission meeting in Juba                                 £  2,000
• Contribution towards funding two visiting                                  £  2,000
  lecturers to Bishop Ngalamu College

How do We Prioritise Where our Support Should be Directed?

We do not decide what the priorities should be. The Sudan Link is, above all, a partnership. We work with the two ECS commissions (theological and education) in deciding what we, together, feel are the most relevant areas to support. We are not the only partners working with the ECS so it is essential that we decide together where we can be most effective with the resources at our disposal.

Each year, John Foster (ed. Comm. chair) attends the theological commission conference which brings together the five Provincial colleges. This is an ideal opportunity to discuss needs and priorities. During that visit John also meets with the education commission to engage in a similar discussion.

If you would like to donate to the work of the Education Link please click here.

Education Link News: The Latest from John Foster

Youth work
In 2011 we funded a very successful workshop in Lomega Area Diocese run by SOMA. The team included two people from Salisbury diocese.   

Education in schools
On focus here is on raising the standard of teaching in ECS schools. In 2011 the last of 15 teachers funded by Salisbury completed their training at Yei TTC and are now working in ECS schools.

Theological education

• Bishop Gwynne College in Juba has a new Principal.  In June 2011 Rev Joseph Taban took over from Rev Trevor Stubbs who had been Interim Administrator.
• Bishop Allison College is in considerable difficulties due to a lack of funding. It is now in its second year without an intake of students. There is little which we, as partners, can do until the Board of Governors takes decisive action on some difficult issues.
• We are currently planning to send two priests from Salisbury diocese as visiting lecturers to Bishop Ngalamu College in Mundri later in 2012.

John Foster

Contact: Sudan Secretary
Email: sudan.secretary@salisbury.anglican.org
Tel: 01722 411922
Fax: 01722 411990