Gangi Longa
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 5, 2010
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DEOGRATIAS MUSHI, 7th February 2010 @ 05:27, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 31
LAST years Form Four national examination results were announced over the weekend. Just like in other years in the past, seminaries and other schools managed by the Catholic Church performed better than other schools.
Results of the two seminaries located in Kilimanjaro Region for example, have shown that 99 per cent of the examinees, scored division one.
These are Uru and Saint James seminaries. Any person who follows closely the Form Four and Form Six examination results every year would wish that his/her child goes to such schools, which academically (as well as morally) prepare students for various professions.
But that would not be easy as the following saying affirms: If wishes were horses beggars would ride them.
There is an example of a student from Dar es Salaam who joined Uru Seminary in Moshi some few years ago, but he could not last longer there, because he failed to observe the days schedule, that included waking up at 5.00am every day for prayers.
Another one at Maua Seminary had to pack his bag and return to the city, since he disliked farming activities that were part and parcel of students formation.
To study in any seminary or Catholic-run school for four or six years is not a simple matter as one might think, because students are expected to follow strict rules.
It involves a lot of sacrifices for one to make it to the end. John Paul, a city-based businessman at Kariakoo, says he went to Uru Seminary in Kilimanjaro region in early 1980s but he only stayed there for three years.
Why? The seminary life was so hard for him, that he had to quit and join an ordinary secondary school.
John says that he had grown up in Dar es Salaam where he was used to a particular style of life that could not match with the seminary life in Moshi.
But Beda Msimbe, who is the Production Editor with 'HabariLeo' newspaper in Dar es Salaam, says that seminary life was one of his best adventurous moments in his life.
He proudly says that seminary formation shaped his life for the better and he is reaping the benefits up to now. Msimbe went to St. Patrick Minor Seminary in Morogoro Region, where he studied both for his ordinary and advanced secondary education.
Our preparation to begin seminary formation started when we were still in Standard One in our village. The local parish priest placed us into a special programme, which was aimed readying us for seminary life later, he says.
This brings out the difference between Catholic-run secondary schools and a pure Catholic seminary.
Taking an example of the few Catholic-run secondary schools that excelled in this years proper selection of students, discipline, availability of trained teachers and enough text books are some of the reasons which helped the students perform well.
Such schools include Marian Girls in Coast region, Maria Goreti and Anuarite in Kilimanjaro region, and the famous Mbeya-based Saint Francis Girls Secondary Schools.
Some ordinary Catholic schools dont perform as well, because of various factors, including wrong selection of the teaching staff and generally, unfavourable environment.
Most seminaries, especially those ancient ones like St James, Rubya, Likonde, Kaengesa, Maua, Nyegezi, Uru and Itaga have established for themselves a system, whereby boys to be enrolled in Form One have to begin the process from their particular neighbourhood group, famously known as Small Christian Community (SCC).
SCC normally gives recommendations as to whether the young man deserves to undergo seminary formation, which primarily has the aim of preparing him to become a Catholic priest, though majority of them leave once they have completed advanced level secondary education.
Once a particular parish accepts a boy to begin seminary formation after primary school, then the whole Catholic community in the neighbourhood starts observing his character, and if he is found misbehaving, then he wont be accepted to continue with the formation.
The crucial time for a pupil interested in joining seminary life is when he is about to complete Class Seven, that he has to undergo an interview conducted by three different reputable priests in turns.
Normally fewer boys are selected after the interview to do written examination, after which those who excel to the expected standards are accepted to join seminaries.
At this juncture, there are favouritisms at times, when some priests show weaknesses of accepting some boys to join the seminary, not because they qualify, but rather because their parents are related or friends of theirs.
Unlike ordinary schools, there is normally a good studying environment in most seminaries, since there is a good trained staff dedicated to teaching, an equipped library, and of course good and sufficient food.
Life in any seminary is comprised of three different activities. These are studies, prayer and work (manual labour).
Any student who cannot fully participate in the three things is asked to leave the seminary with immediate effect, no matter how bright, prayerful or hardworking he might be.
Students wake up early for prayers, and then do a little bit of house chores before they begin classes at around eight Oclock.
The days schedule is so tense that it leaves no time for students to roam around without any substantial thing to do. Students rarely go for outings, and social activities are so balanced that they dont leave room for the students to misbehave.
Mr Gasper Macha, who taught at Uru Seminary until 2008 used to say that to teach at a seminary is always exciting, because students are well selected intellectually, and are serious when doing class homework.
Father Aloyce Kinyange who has taught at St James Seminary in Moshi once told me that, for any school to excel, there is a need for good students selection, as well as recruitment of a good dedicated staff.
What shouldnt be forgotten is that students who perform below standard in seminaries at the end of each academic year are asked to leave the seminary, and this yardstick helps many students to avoid this trapping hole.
The challenge is Can other secondary schools borrow a leaf from Catholic seminaries, to enable their students excel in examination as well?
http://www.dailynews.co.tz/feature/?n=7294&cat=feature
LAST years Form Four national examination results were announced over the weekend. Just like in other years in the past, seminaries and other schools managed by the Catholic Church performed better than other schools.
Results of the two seminaries located in Kilimanjaro Region for example, have shown that 99 per cent of the examinees, scored division one.
These are Uru and Saint James seminaries. Any person who follows closely the Form Four and Form Six examination results every year would wish that his/her child goes to such schools, which academically (as well as morally) prepare students for various professions.
But that would not be easy as the following saying affirms: If wishes were horses beggars would ride them.
There is an example of a student from Dar es Salaam who joined Uru Seminary in Moshi some few years ago, but he could not last longer there, because he failed to observe the days schedule, that included waking up at 5.00am every day for prayers.
Another one at Maua Seminary had to pack his bag and return to the city, since he disliked farming activities that were part and parcel of students formation.
To study in any seminary or Catholic-run school for four or six years is not a simple matter as one might think, because students are expected to follow strict rules.
It involves a lot of sacrifices for one to make it to the end. John Paul, a city-based businessman at Kariakoo, says he went to Uru Seminary in Kilimanjaro region in early 1980s but he only stayed there for three years.
Why? The seminary life was so hard for him, that he had to quit and join an ordinary secondary school.
John says that he had grown up in Dar es Salaam where he was used to a particular style of life that could not match with the seminary life in Moshi.
But Beda Msimbe, who is the Production Editor with 'HabariLeo' newspaper in Dar es Salaam, says that seminary life was one of his best adventurous moments in his life.
He proudly says that seminary formation shaped his life for the better and he is reaping the benefits up to now. Msimbe went to St. Patrick Minor Seminary in Morogoro Region, where he studied both for his ordinary and advanced secondary education.
Our preparation to begin seminary formation started when we were still in Standard One in our village. The local parish priest placed us into a special programme, which was aimed readying us for seminary life later, he says.
This brings out the difference between Catholic-run secondary schools and a pure Catholic seminary.
Taking an example of the few Catholic-run secondary schools that excelled in this years proper selection of students, discipline, availability of trained teachers and enough text books are some of the reasons which helped the students perform well.
Such schools include Marian Girls in Coast region, Maria Goreti and Anuarite in Kilimanjaro region, and the famous Mbeya-based Saint Francis Girls Secondary Schools.
Some ordinary Catholic schools dont perform as well, because of various factors, including wrong selection of the teaching staff and generally, unfavourable environment.
Most seminaries, especially those ancient ones like St James, Rubya, Likonde, Kaengesa, Maua, Nyegezi, Uru and Itaga have established for themselves a system, whereby boys to be enrolled in Form One have to begin the process from their particular neighbourhood group, famously known as Small Christian Community (SCC).
SCC normally gives recommendations as to whether the young man deserves to undergo seminary formation, which primarily has the aim of preparing him to become a Catholic priest, though majority of them leave once they have completed advanced level secondary education.
Once a particular parish accepts a boy to begin seminary formation after primary school, then the whole Catholic community in the neighbourhood starts observing his character, and if he is found misbehaving, then he wont be accepted to continue with the formation.
The crucial time for a pupil interested in joining seminary life is when he is about to complete Class Seven, that he has to undergo an interview conducted by three different reputable priests in turns.
Normally fewer boys are selected after the interview to do written examination, after which those who excel to the expected standards are accepted to join seminaries.
At this juncture, there are favouritisms at times, when some priests show weaknesses of accepting some boys to join the seminary, not because they qualify, but rather because their parents are related or friends of theirs.
Unlike ordinary schools, there is normally a good studying environment in most seminaries, since there is a good trained staff dedicated to teaching, an equipped library, and of course good and sufficient food.
Life in any seminary is comprised of three different activities. These are studies, prayer and work (manual labour).
Any student who cannot fully participate in the three things is asked to leave the seminary with immediate effect, no matter how bright, prayerful or hardworking he might be.
Students wake up early for prayers, and then do a little bit of house chores before they begin classes at around eight Oclock.
The days schedule is so tense that it leaves no time for students to roam around without any substantial thing to do. Students rarely go for outings, and social activities are so balanced that they dont leave room for the students to misbehave.
Mr Gasper Macha, who taught at Uru Seminary until 2008 used to say that to teach at a seminary is always exciting, because students are well selected intellectually, and are serious when doing class homework.
Father Aloyce Kinyange who has taught at St James Seminary in Moshi once told me that, for any school to excel, there is a need for good students selection, as well as recruitment of a good dedicated staff.
What shouldnt be forgotten is that students who perform below standard in seminaries at the end of each academic year are asked to leave the seminary, and this yardstick helps many students to avoid this trapping hole.
The challenge is Can other secondary schools borrow a leaf from Catholic seminaries, to enable their students excel in examination as well?
http://www.dailynews.co.tz/feature/?n=7294&cat=feature
