Juba — The Minister of Higher Education Dr. Peter Adwok Nyaba yesterday officially launched St. Mary's University College of Education in Juba.

The institution was officially opened with blessing from the Catholic Archbishop of Juba Paolino Lokudu Loro.

St. Mary University is established and recognized as university by the then Sudan government in 2008 with the aim to train primary teachers in both science and arts subjects to provide quality teachers that can improve the standard of education which has been damaged because of long civil war in the country.

While addressing the gathering, the minister applauded effort of the Catholic Church toward improving education system in South Sudan and welcomed their decision to upgrade St. Mary College into University to meet growing demand of South Sudanese for higher education of learning.

He said the Government task is to improve the system of education from being quantity to quality. That is why "we in the ministry set up mechanism for any private institution to fulfill in order to qualify as a university. So we hope with the foundation you have started, this facility would help the government in its effort to improve education in this new country," said Adwok.

The culture of impunity among some individuals in the government hinders his ministry's effort to close down private Universities that did not meet the requirements needed for an institution to operate.

Meanwhile Lokudu said Catholic Universities are known for its quality services they provide. Adding that their purpose is not to make name but to do true thing they want to do to the people of this Nation.

He urged both students and lecturers to express their concerns to show good image of the University by their good performance.