In 1990 the Order of Little Sisters of Kidetok started St. Francis Comprehensive Girls' School in Serere, Soroti District, to educate young girls. Because of the lack of educational opportunities in the area and because of pressure from parents, the school agreed to enrol boys as well. The vision for a school just for girls has always remained the long-term goal of the Order. Land has been acquired a few kilometres from the present site with the intention of building a new campus. At the request of the Order, the name of the original school was changed in 2018 to St. Valerian Nursery and Primary School.

St. Valerian school currently the enrolls just over 400 students in Grade 1 through Grade 7.

The area, like much of Northern and Eastern Uganda, was devastated by fighting in the 1990's and early 2000's. Peace was established about10 years ago and the communities was gradually re-establishing themselves, although the economy remains basically subsistence agriculture.

Thanks to the efforts of the community and the Order of Little Sisters of Kidetok, a ten-classroom school has been partially built. The buildings need internal and external plastering, the floors finished, and windows and doors installed.