Welcome to the YTTC Campus News
Presented by Almacy Pitia on Monday 2nd July 2012.                   

• Guild President launches opening of urinary shelter 
• A computer breakdown scares students
• Y.C.S. MDD festival competitions held 
• A farmer out competes a teacher

The news in detail:

The college administration's completion of a newly constructed urinary shelter at Unity Hall was very well done and appreciated by the Governor and the citzens of Unity Hall state.

His Highness the Governor of Unity state; Angelo Chan Mavenge, organised for an official launching of the shelter by the Guild President.  Before the function, the governor issued a decree urging all the commissioners to turn up for general cleaning of the compound, in which the Guild President and the Compound Manager joined them.

During the function, the Governor gave a remarkable speech urging all the citizens of Unity Hall to thank the college administration for the good work done.  One of the Commissioners of Unity State, Mr Odiongo Paul, commented that they have now got what they wanted, since most of them were colliding with a mango tree during the rush hours of 4:oo am to visit the urinary shelters at Wisdom Hall.  

However the Guild President, in his speech, emphasised that all the citizens of Unity and Wisdom Hall should take full responsibility in maintaining the shelter since his dream had been fulfilled by the college administration.  Some citizens commented that if this is the spirit of His Excellency the President and the Governor, their wish is that they would continue in the government until the end of the year.

The function was closed by a Lopit traditional dance organised by Unity Hall citizens.

• A computer breakdown scares students

Presented by Mr. Hyena

Well it was on Tuesday 26^th June at 4:00pm East African standard time, that a computer lesson was conducted for the year two B’S.

The students turned up for the lesson, but unfortunately the ICT tutor was not present.  Shortly after one of the students turned on the power switch, a power saver in one of the computers began burning.  The student who was operating the particular computer didn’t realise that the power saver was burning due to their lack of technological knowledge.  However the Minister for Power and Energy; Hon. Baba Michael, realised that a bad smell was being produced by one of the computers and alerted all the students of danger.  Immediately the Guild President, who is a historian and a man of the people, announced loudly that people should “run out to save your lives”!

The result was such that the door became narrow like the eye of a needle, as the students attempted to pass through.  Later the tutor on duty intervened and ordered the Minister of Power and Energy to disconnect the computer and remove the bad smelling power saver to the separate ICT room.

The Hon. Baba Michael commented that “the incident occurred due to damage in one of the power savers.  This information had been passed to me by the ICT tutor, however due to lack of time I was not able to tell the students since I was preparing for the forthcoming debate between YTTC and Yei Public S.S.  I realised that one of the computers was producing a bad smell so I told one of the students to turn off the main switch reminding them that if they inhale the smoke it may have an effect on their health.  On hearing that, the students did not bother to turn the switch off, but immediately left the room in a hurry.  One of the journalists hid under the table where he had been trying to collect data from a computer.   I then tried to turn off the main switch to disconnect the computers and when I called the students back some of them explained they’d rushed to their dormitories for safety because “it’s better to meet death without seeing it, than seeing it coming towards you”.

Hyena explained why a journalist was hiding under the table instead of collecting data.

“Well Almacy, due to congestion, he could not find a way out through the door.  Therefore he decided to hide under the table by the last computer, thinking that the burning of the computer is like the normal burning of grass during the dry season, when they go hunting as hyenas.

• Young Christian students' (Y.C.S.) MDD festival competition held

Presented by Ngota Charles

The 30^thJune 2012 was a remarkable day for young Christian students in Yei River County.  A Music, Drama and Dancing (MDD) festival competition was held, to which students of Yei Teacher Training College were also invited to attend.

The preparation for the occasion was a terrible time for some participants, because if they did not turn up for training in time, he or she would be sent back to his/her small village.

In a related story, some participants who were unable to sing well were sent back to their small villages by their trainer.  Among these were two tenors, one alto and three soprano singers.  Some of those remaining, who qualified for training, were faced with the serious challenge of having to learn the song and adjust their pitch for harmonising.  On Friday evening the director of music even addressed the participants saying “may you allow me to dismiss my only son because he is not paying attention”.

When each participant was asked to sing individually, the pressure caused some tenors voices to rise, while one of the bass singers alongside was unable to produce the low octave “doh” sound.  The director advised him to sing as a tenor in the future so that he could contribute to the correct voice group.

The event was witnessed by Florence who tells us more:

The Y.C.S. MDD festivals held at Christ the King on 30^th June 2012 was held under the theme “Reconciliation, Justice and Peace to Transform the Community”.  It was characterized by three major items, which included the singing of a common Y.C.S. song, drama and traditional dances. 

One of the expected schools did not turn up for the competition due to circumstances beyond their control, whilst Yei Girls S.S. performed as expected, providing a colourful event with cheerful faces.  In the drama, one of the ladies from Yei Girls S.S. pretended to be a man, which confused the whole gathering due to her clothes and acting. 

The neck and neck competition was judged by the Vicar General of Juba, the Archdiocese Rev. Fr. Nicholas Diri and the Director of Music at YTTC, Mr. Peter Rock.  The Commissioner of Yei River County, David Juma Augustine, addressed the gathering by honoring the teachers, emphasizing that ”Education is the major priority to develop our nation”.  He was quoted saying that what was required was ”not only academics but we need quality education”.  He further added that YTTC had never disappointed him.

Awards were given for the best performing schools, which emerged as Yei Girls S.S. with 207 points, followed by St. Joseph Lutaya S.S. with 205 points, St. Paul with 189 points and finally Yei Day with 164 points.

Three schools were awarded with trophies for their wonderful performances and Yei Day received a general award for their participation.  At this, the Commissioner commented that there was a need to build more girls secondary boarding schools in Yei River County since they were also the leaders in the marathon, which he officiated at Freedom Square the same day.

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yei; His Lordship Erikulano Ladu Tombe, emphasised that what the church most needed to see was quality education.  He described the Commissioner as being the youngest Commissioner In the Republic of South Sudan, who needs much support from the nation’s citizens.  He was quoted saying “these are the kind of the people we are looking for”.

The occasion was closed with expressions of appreciation from both the Commissioner and the Bishop, by promising to pay 1,000ssp each after the festival, to support the Y.C.S. activities.  Finally, in the evening the director of music at Yei Teacher Training College provided the good news that he had received a call from Fr. Alex Lodiong; Y.C.S. Chaplain.  The chaplain had said YTTC is now fully registered for the forthcoming MDD festivals in Yei River County and he was expecting YTTC to take all the trophies for that coming year.           

• A farmer out competes a teacher

On Friday 30^th June 2012 the students of YTTC were convinced by a farmer in an interesting balloon debate.  The balloon debate was organised by the chairperson and the debate patron of YTTC, marking the first of its kind for students to enjoy at the college.

The debate was to decide which career is the best and kicked off with a selection of titles for the participants; among which were the teacher, lawyer, pastor, hunter, musician, and engineer.

In the first round of the balloon debate the hunter, pastor, musician and engineer were knocked out.  During the second half the lawyer; who is the Guild President, was accompanied by one of the Ministers as a bodyguard, but they both failed to convince the audience and were kicked off.

A head to head struggle ensued for the teacher; Her Excellency Kiden Alice Hope and a village farmer from Ommikuru village, both fighting for their rights in the community.

M R. Towongo, the villager, convinced the students by bringing real food to the debate room and told the students that food comes first before everything, adding that food even comes before studies.  This statement caused 99% of the students to vote him as the winner of the debate, with 147 votes.  

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           Edited by Almacy Pitia                  Published by Joseph Napoleon