The establishment of St. Francis Secondary School was the beginning of education at a higher level in Northern Province. The only similar institutions in the country were Munali in Lusaka and St. Canisius in Southern Province.

Education at St Francis Secondary School has a long history. It started in 1927 when the white fathers opened a teacher training school at Rosa Mission in the Archdiocese of Kasama. The pupils that were admitted to Rosa training school were barely primary school pupils themselves, and upon graduation they were awarded what were called T4 certificates. The college was moved from Rosa Mission to Malole Mission in 1933 and was named St. Francis College after St. Francis Xavier as Patron. The premises combined a teacher training college, Primary School and a trade School to teach carpentry and bricklaying. A junior secondary school was opened in 1951 Rene Pailloux as Head Master. At that time there were only twenty students and five teachers. The White Fathers handed over the running of the School to the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in 1957, Father Van de Aker was appointed as head teacher.