Local NGO Equips Teachers with Management Skills to Transform Learning

By Awan Achiek

The local non-governmental organisation Excellence Foundation for South Sudan has trained 287 teachers in Juba in essential teaching and managerial skills aimed at improving learning outcomes in schools.

The training, conducted in 2025, focused on lesson planning, development of schemes of work, effective classroom management, child safeguarding, and modern assessment strategies.

In an exclusive interview with The Dawn newspaper, Emanuel Gordon, head teacher of Baraka Central Nursery and Primary School and one of the program beneficiaries, said the training significantly strengthened his ability to manage the school more effectively.

“We received training on managerial skills to help us manage our school better. Since completing the training, my managerial skills have greatly improved,” Gordon said.

“The school I am leading has now become one of the most successful schools in the High Baraka Block 5 area.”

Gordon, who participated in the two-week training programme in March 2025, noted that the initiative enhanced lesson planning practices in schools, leading to improved relationships between teachers and students.

“It also taught me how to strengthen my relationship with the community and how to engage with government institutions,” he added.

“Since receiving the training, things have been very successful, and I truly appreciate the support from the Excellence Foundation.”

He appealed to the organisation to expand the programme to other parts of the country in order to strengthen the education sector nationwide.

The training employed a variety of instructional approaches, including facilitator-led presentations, group discussions, activities, individual tasks, visuals, and puzzles, enabling teachers to acquire knowledge and skills effectively.

The Excellence Foundation for South Sudan promotes education support initiatives, peacebuilding, socio-economic development, leadership development, and community-building efforts to support individuals and marginalised communities at the grassroots level.

Mayen Joseph, a teacher at Buluk A-1 Primary School in Juba, said the training helped him understand how lesson plans break down curriculum objectives into clear and achievable classroom goals.

“The training has benefited me in school management, classroom management, and in working with people around the school,” Mayen said.

“In terms of lesson preparation, you must be ready before entering the classroom. These are skills I gained during the training.”

He added that preparing schemes of work had previously been challenging, but the new skills have enabled him to deliver lessons more effectively.

“We need refresher training to deepen our knowledge and acquire additional skills,” he said.

Khemis Simon Stephen, Project Manager for the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan, said the organisation has conducted extensive in-service training for teachers to enhance their capacity to deliver quality education.

“We realised that many schools in South Sudan rely on unqualified and untrained teachers, which inspired us to initiate this project,” Simon said.

He explained that the programme was designed to support teachers in improving service delivery in their respective schools.

“Teachers were trained in lesson planning and schemes of work, and we also addressed teachers’ mental health, as they need to be aware of their well-being while working with children,” he said.

Simon noted that the initiative aims to help schools produce quality learners across the country.

“We also provide refresher training for school administrators, guiding them on how to manage their institutions effectively,” he added.

He disclosed that in 2024 alone, the organisation trained over 100 teachers in lesson planning, schemes of work, classroom management, and child safeguarding.

“Two weeks after the training, we revisit schools to assess progress and ensure teachers are applying what they have learned,” Simon said.

The teacher training is part of the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan’s Your Skill Boost project, which aims to equip professionals with skills required for success in the 21st century.

The programme was piloted in 2024, benefiting more than 100 teachers across nearly 10 schools in Juba City.

Its primary objective is to enhance classroom learning outcomes by strengthening teachers’ ability to deliver lessons effectively.