Entrance Exam

September 1st marked the first day of examinations which students must sit for entrance into the Secretarial Program. Three hundred girls journeyed from around the country to take the exam, of which only fifty will be accepted. The test had to be administered at a nearby public school, as our school wasn’t big enough to seat everyone.

Just as the testing was about to begin, it began to downpour (testimony that we are indeed in the middle of the rainy season!). Half of the classrooms began to leak, forcing the girls to move out into the hallway for the exam. Despite this small glitch, the four hours of testing proceeded. When it came time to walk back to the school, the streets had completely flooded!

The Sisters have a very difficult task ahead of them, choosing which girls to accept. They give preference to the poor, accepting those with absolutely no other prospects in front of them. Those that are perceived as having the slightest other hope for the future are turned down.

Another part of the entrance requirements includes an interview. All of which were held in the three days following the exam. The teachers act as translators for the Sisters during these interviews. Talking with them, they said they dread this task. For a full three days they listen to the heart-breaking lives of these girls. For many, this vocational school is their last hope. The majority of them will not be accepted, simply because of limited resources. For those that are, they will learn computer, English, and accounting, life-long skills that will enable them to support their family. The Sisters say how wonderful it is to watch the girls blossom during the year, as they receive a purpose in life and hope for the future. I look forward to witnessing this transformation over the coming year.