St Peters Theological College
BACKGROUND
St. Peter’s Theological College, Soroti was established by the Diocese of Soroti church of Uganda in 2006, to be the college for the training of her Lay Readers for ministry, and for the retooling of the church ministers who are already in service.
The diocese has about 700 daughter churches/ sub parishes, and the number keeps on growing, which are being ministered to by nearly 80% untrained Lay Readers / Church teachers.
Realizing that a very large proportion of the church congregations are being ministered to by the people without any training in the bible/ theology, the synod of COU Soroti diocese resolved to set up the college to equip the Lay Readers for their work and also a Centre for Refresher Training for the Clergy.
CURRICULUM
The province of the Anglican Church in Uganda has a standardized curriculum which is used for the training of Lay Readers.
It covers all the core thematic subject matters in theology, religions and social development, thatmake the Lay Reader relevant in the contemporary church.
The students are examined by Uganda Christian University (UCU) and successful ones qualify for Lay Reader Certificate. This certificate qualifies the Lay Reader to pursue a diploma in Theology offered by UCU, which is an ordination course.
Co-curricula activities
Agriculture
In 2020 students had Training in Farming God’s Way. We are yet to assess its practicality. Generally the need to train the Lay readers in agricultural practices is no doubt necessary. They will be working in mostly rural communities whose livelihood depends on some form of agriculture. They therefore need the knowledge for themselves and also as change agents to guide the their community members.
It is important that the Lay Readers be equipped both theologically and with skills to address theneeds of their communities.
Skills Training
Arising from the field experience whereby the Lay Reader is posted to work amongst the economically disadvantaged people, and the same people are expected to look after him from the meager offertory, the college has come up with a skilling program for the Lay Reader Trainees so that they are equipped for self reliance. This Training is currently being done in the neighboring Vocational Training Institute. This is being done at very minimal cost but the major challenge for the training has been the cost of the materials required.
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment over a 5 year period
YEAR | NO. OF STUDENTS ADMITTED |
2018- 2019 | 66 |
2019 – 2020 | 54 |
2020 – 2021 | 43 |
2021 – 2022 | 51 |
2022 – 2023 | 88 |
This year 2022, we had planned to admit only 80 students but the number went up by 8 students. It would have shot much higher if we did not close admission. The current enrolment stands at 88 students, 80 males and 8 Females.
Next year we expect to admit 100 students, 10 per archdeaconry. So in thecampus next year, we expect both year one and year two students. This will raise our population to 188 students on campus. We will give opportunity to 90 males and 10 Females. Accommodation is still our challenge even as we plan for the new year2023.
STAFFING
NAME | ROLE | QUALIFICATION |
Rev. Canon Boniface Esomu | Principal | Master of arts in public administration and management (Cavendish university Uganda) Bachelors of DIV (UCU) Diploma in theology (BTTC) Lay reader certificate |
Rev. Canon John Robert Angiro | Deputy principal | MA Applied theology Bachelor of DIV (ATIEA) Diploma in Theology [MUK] Church Army Africa. |
Rev. Paul Ariko | Tutor& master in charge agriculture | Bachelor of DIV (UCU) Diploma in forestry (Nyabeya) |
Rev. Rebecca AojaEngwau |
Tutor | Master of Human resource in educationMgt, BD(UCU) Diploma in local government and public administration. Diploma in project planning and management. Post graduate diploma in teacher education (Kyambogo) |
Rev. John Micheal Esamu | Tutor &master in charge students affairs | Diploma in theology (UCU) Certificate in theology (BTTC) Lay Reader Certificate |
Rev. Helen Ameri Achedia | Tutor &in chargewomen’s affairs | Diploma in theology (UCU) Lay Reader Certificate |
Mr. Omuudu George William | Tutor & incharge music | BED {Kumi University} Diploma in MDD Secondary {MUK} Grade Three Teachers Certificate {BKC} Grade Two Teachers Certificate Moroto PTC |
Asio Christine | Tutor | Bachelor Degree in SWASA Diploma in SWASA {Nsamizi} Post graduate in M&E [UMI} |
COLLEGE FEES
The cost of keeping a student at the College for one year is USHS 900,000=
However each student is meant to pay Shs 1,465,000= per year. This would facilitate proper learning and even cause some improvement in the College facilities if it were paid.
The students are expected to be sponsored by their Archdeaconries but this has not worked because of the poor parish incomes. We each time, have had to operate at a bare minimum, supplemented by the diocesan office in form of staff salaries.
INFRASTRUCTURE:
Currently, we have the following:
One dormitory with the capacity for 50 students.
One multipurpose hall – used as a chapel, lecture room, reception room and dinning hall.
Modern kitchen equipped with energy saving cooking stoves
Laundry room.
5000 liter rain water harvesting tank
A library with the capacity for 50 students
Land, 10 acres for both expansion and agriculture.
COLLEGE FEES
CHALLENGES
Lecture halls. To operate normally we need two lecture halls. Next year we expect to have year one and two students. These are classes of over 80 students each.
Dormitories. We have only one dormitory that can accommodate 50 students and yet our population is growing rapidly because of the need for trained Lay Readers.
Office space. We are currently being housed in the Pharmaceutical school. We need our own office in our campus.