Two historic events just happened at Tusgal Secondary School in Mongolia. First, on May 22, 2017, it had its first graduation ceremony for the elementary level (grade 5), middle school (grade 9), and high school (grade 12). The high school produced five graduates as its first fruits! The second important event was the accreditation visit of the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) from May 22 to 24, 2017, which was the first ever since the school was established in 2009.
The speaker of the graduation was Dr. John Wesley Taylor V, an associate director of the General Conference education department. He was there to join the AAA accreditation team evaluating the school. In addition, he also conducted a 4-hour seminar on the integration of faith and learning for the school teachers.
Besides Dr. Taylor, witnessing the graduations were principals/teachers of other Adventist schools in the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) as well as church leaders: Frank Tam, principal of Hong Kong Adventist Academy; Simon Xu, principal of Macau Sam Yuk Middle School; Jeremy Everhart, principal of Taiwan Adventist International School; Karina Bresla, ELL director of Taipei Adventist American School; Choi HyungJin, NSD assistant treasurer; and Richard Sabuin, NSD education director. They are members of the AAA visiting team evaluating the school.
The school started in 2009 with only 4 teachers and 14 students. Now the school has almost 30 teachers and workers, 80% of whom are Adventists, and 127 students of whom 35% are Adventists. Despite challenges, the school has nurtured a spiritual environment for both teachers and students. Every school day the teachers have a 30-minute devotional time when they discuss together the Sabbath School quarterly lesson of the week. The school also conducts week of prayer twice a year. In the school year of 2016/2017, three students were baptized. One of the graduates mentioned how close the teachers have been to her and guided her.
Under the leadership of the school principal, Mrs. Otgontuya Tserenpil, the school is committed to offering Adventist education with the purpose of impacting students and teachers with the knowledge of God and the truth. Let us pray for the continuity and the advancement of Tusgal Secondary School.
Richard Sabuin, NSD Education Director