In the first part of this Editorial that was published last week we commended the Government of Ghana for its plans to give back Schools to those who established them.
The Catholic Standard is surprised that while many Ghanaians are welcoming the move by the government to hand over Schools to their original owners, the Member of Parliament for Asawase and Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka is purported to be kicking against this laudable idea.
We vehemently disagree with the Legislator that giving back Religious Bodies full control of their Schools will not augur well for the development of the country’s education because, according to the MP these Schools will be used for indoctrinationIt is however gratifying to note that in reacting to the Legislator’s opposing stance on the move, the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni–Frimpong said “nobody should consider this as a takeover” insisting the Schools belong to them, and that government’s stake in it is primarily to lend support to them.
We see government’s decision to return Mission Schools to the Religious Bodies, as a form of recognition of their contribution to, not just high quality educational standards but also as instruments for inculcating in students high moral and ethical values.
Over the years, the Government of Ghana and the Religious Bodies have had a Partnership Arrangement which allows the latter to manage their Schools while the Government covers the salaries of teachers, the provision of additional infrastructure, teaching and learning materials.
Unfortunately, the absence of any document to guide this Partnership over the years had led to the gradual and systematic weakening of the Religious Bodies stake in education delivery. This is evident in the several cases of lack of collaboration by some Educational Managers, the withdrawal of Government of Ghana grants or subsidies and the general frustration caused by some officials of the Ghana Education Service.
The partnership between Religious Bodies and the State in education services delivery dates back to the pre-Independence period which had continued even after, with varying levels of co-operation.
Since 1999, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference had taken serious steps with Government to review their partnership in education, with the institution of a Joint Committee to review and draft a new Partnership Agreement between Government and the Religious Bodies in management of these Schools. A Report or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on this was submitted to government in July 2008 but had since then not been formally endorsement by Government.
Since there is no Signed MOU, the partnership between the Church and the State in education delivery, we call for an Educational Partnership Agreement between the government and the Religious Bodies to facilitate the attainment of these goals and purposes.
It is general public acknowledgement that Faith-based Schools are among the best in the country; these Schools facilitate the poor segment of society to have access to top quality education, sometimes surpassing the so-called elite private schools which cost a fortune.
We appeal to the Minister of Education to facilitate, as soon as possible, the crafting of a partnership agreement that is fair to both the Religious Bodies and the State.
We would like to conclude by drawing the attention of the Government to issues regarding education and other vexing national matters which have been pointed out by the Catholic Bishops of Ghana in their recent Communiqué.
