Inanda Seminary

South Africa

United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA)

Inanda Seminary was founded by U.S. missionaries in 1869 and today is an independent school under the auspices of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), a longtime partner of Global Ministries.   As an all-girls school, Inanda Seminary has as its core a holistic educational program that upholds Christian values and philosophies and embraces African tradition and heritage.

The school, which lies 25 kilometers northwest of Durban and forms part of the KwZulu-Natal (KZN) Tourism Route, is a leading independent black boarding school for girls in southern Africa.   It provides quality education, which emphasizes independent thinking and freedom of expression.   The school has produced a number of highly successful women who today occupy high profile positions in government and business.  Since its founding in 1869, over 8,000 girls have gone into the world remembering and exemplifying the schools motto: “Shine where you are.”

Inanda Seminary’s importance is attributable to its high quality value-based education and the success of its graduates over the years.   Fees for tuition and board are at very affordable levels.   As an independent school all, “members” are full boarders.   Instruction is offered in Grades 7 – 12 encompassing both the Senior and FET (further education and training) phases. Values are reinforced and strengthened in a cultural context that is proudly African.

Much has been achieved at Inanda Seminary largely through the passion and commitment of its alumnae and staff.  With a growing enrollment, the school has been able to meet its operational budget through paid tuition and a KZN Education Department subsidy.  The board has attempted to keep fees at an affordable level and at the same time manage to cover operational expenses.  There continues to be a great need to support students from families who find themselves in financial difficulties.

Moreover, several students have excelled academically at Inanda for their secondary education, but fees for tertiary education are prohibitive.  Financial support of students entering university level studies is necessary.

In addition, Inanda Seminary has a strong outreach commitment and is involved in different community projects not the least of which is supporting local children impacted by HIV/AIDS with Anti-Retroviral (ARV) treatment.

Education continues to be a primary concern for women in South Africa.  Inanda Seminary responds to this need in a very positive way.  The class of 2012 recorded 100 percent pass, 100 percent bachelors, and 192 distinctions.  No one failed.

Inanda Seminary, together with Global Ministries, has over the years sponsored the overseas higher education of two students from Inanda.  Lindokuhle Ngwenya is the second student of the two, about to begin her third of four years of study at Rollings College, near Orlando, Florida.  Rollins College was founded by Congregationalists in the 1800s.  Lindokuhle is hosted by the First Congregational Church of Winter Park, the UCC faith community that founded Rollins College.  Read an August 2013 update from Lindokuhle Ngwenya.