(YAMBIO COUNTY) – A Catholic seminary in Western Equatoria has introduced an unusual but practical solution to help students stay in school despite South Sudan’s worsening economic crisis. The St John Paul II Institute of Philosophy now allows students to pay tuition with charcoal, goats, chickens, and farm produce instead of cash.
The new system was launched after the seminary observed that many seminarians were unable to afford tuition, which is set at about 950,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) per semester.
For Kinaregu Justin Richard, a seminarian at the institute, the initiative was the only way he could continue his studies.
“The money was too much for me to raise. But through the charcoal I brought, the school accepted it as part of my fees. This has helped me remain in class,” he said.
Rector Fr Vairi Natale explained that the decision was meant to ease the pressure on families, most of whom depend on farming and small scale trade.
“We did not want to lose seminarians because of lack of cash. If families have goats, chickens, or charcoal, we value them and deduct from tuition. It is practical and keeps education alive,” he noted.
Parents in Western Equatoria have welcomed the system as a relief during a time when inflation has eroded household incomes.
“I cannot always get dollars, but I can bring cassava or a goat. This has given us hope,” said Mrs Margaret Naumba, whose son is enrolled at the seminary.
Education experts say the model could help reduce school dropouts across South Sudan. Mr Francis Juma, an education consultant, described the idea as “inclusive” because it recognises local livelihoods as a form of currency.
“If more schools, including government and private, adopted this, children would not be forced out of class simply because their parents lack cash,” he said.
Families in Western Equatoria often sell farm produce or charcoal at very low prices, making it almost impossible to raise the full amount of tuition in cash. Under the new system, resources that usually struggle to find buyers now directly cover school fees.
Education specialists believe this “charcoal for classrooms” model could inspire other schools and institutions to reconsider how education is financed.
“Education is possible if we use what we have,” Juma added. “Even one chicken can open the door to learning.”
