The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBC) has issued a serious statement expressing deep concern over the recent removal of its representative from the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council, signaling a potential shift in the Church’s influence within the vital education sector. The move, as reported, has been viewed as a significant weakening of the Church’s participation in crucial discussions regarding policy shaping within Ghana’s education system. The Conference highlights the Catholic Church’s position as the second-largest provider of formal education in the country, yet its voice appears increasingly muted on key policy platforms. President of the CBC, Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, voiced these concerns during a meeting with the Parliament’s Chieftaincy, Culture and Religious Affairs Committee. He directly questioned the rationale behind excluding the Church from the GES Council, emphasizing the Church’s longstanding commitment to education and its demonstrated experience in fostering discipline and moral values. ‘Where decisions are made on education, we, the contributors, are not there,’ he stated, adding that the Church feels excluded from these crucial discussions. The exclusion, according to the Conference, could have far-reaching implications, particularly regarding efforts to address growing concerns about indiscipline and the prevalence of immorality among students, particularly within Senior High Schools. The CBC argues that faith-based education providers – a crucial element of Ghana’s educational landscape – possess a vital role to play in shaping students’ character and promoting responsible behavior. ‘If the one whose core is to instill discipline and morality into people is eliminated, then why ask why there is indiscipline and immorality in the schools?’ The Conference is advocating for the inclusion of faith-based education providers in major policy and decision-making processes, asserting that their experience and contribution remain fundamentally vital to strengthening Ghana’s education system. The move has sparked considerable debate within the educational community and among observers concerned about the potential impact on the quality of education and the overall character of students. The CBC has stated that it intends to actively engage with the GES and the government to ensure a continued and meaningful role for faith-based providers in shaping educational policy. The situation represents a notable challenge to the Church’s established influence and demands careful consideration of its long-term engagement with the education sector.
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Source: Adom Online
