Inanda Seminary Spring 2016
There is an education crisis in South Africa. The pass rate nationally for secondary students is 70.7%. In our province, the pass rate is near the bottom with only 60.7% pass yet Inanda Seminary achieved 100% pass with 96% who qualify to attend university.
Inanda Seminary, founded in 1869, was the first secondary school exclusively for African girls in southern Africa established by Congregationalist missionaries (the predecessor to Global Ministries). The vision statement of the school includes the empowerment of students (affectionately known as “members”) to play a role in the development of the nation and become future leaders.
Inanda Seminary is a church school of our partner denomination, the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA). Inanda Seminary believes in developing the whole child: intellectually, socially, physically and spiritually and upholds six core values: honesty, respect/self-respect, responsibility, loyalty, self-discipline and sociability. These values form the foundation of all that is offered and accomplished at the Seminary. This enables Seminary members and alumni, in the words of the school motto, to “shine where you [they] are.” (Philippians 2:15)
Inanda Seminary is 1 of 22 schools part of the South African Extraordinary Schools Coalition that define themselves as “impact schools.” Impact schools are high-quality, achievement-orientated schools that provide disadvantaged learners across South Africa with affordable access (low fee or no-fee) to high-quality learning that prepares them for success in higher education and the world of work.
Inanda Seminary wants to be a part of the solution to the education crisis and provide opportunities for more students to have access to high quality teaching and learning. In January at the start of the new school year, Inanda Seminary expanded its reach into the local community through the new Khanyisa (light) Community Project. Every Saturday, students from government schools attend extra tuition classes in mathematics and science. Khanyisa started with three high schools with over 300 children attending Saturday classes. The plan is to grow the number of schools and to offer a winter and spring school during school holidays. In the near future, Khanyisa will also provide professional development for teachers from the community schools and leadership skills and development for all. Khanyisa currently uses existing classrooms at Inanda Seminary but the hope is to locate a funder to build a multi-purpose center that will be designated solely for the Khanyisa Community Project.
Reverend Susan M Valiquette, Global Ministries full-time missionary
Chaplain, Inanda Seminary, Durban, South Africa
Reverend Dr. Scott Couper, M.Div., Ph.D., Long-term Volunteer
Scott Couper serves with the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) to assist Inanda Seminary as a resident historian and serve as pastor of Bethel Congregational Church. Susan serves with Inanda Seminary, Durban, South Africa as the chaplain and an instructor. Their appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Churches Wider Mission, and your special gifts.