The General Manager of Catholic Schools in Ghana, Mr. Francis Batadjon, has strongly advised all Teachers in Catholic Schools both Catholic and non-Catholic to exhibit decency in their speeches, mannerism and dressing.
“As a guide and role model, the Catholic School Teacher should be ready and willing to show the way through his/her exemplary lifestyle by exhibiting high degree of decency in speech, mannerism, discipline and dressing because children learn mainly through observation and imitation,” he stated in a message to launch this year’s Catholic Education Week Celebration.
He opined that the effectiveness of the School is largely dependent on the professionalism of teachers manning it, hence, this year’s theme for the Catholic Education Week Celebration, “The Catholic School Teacher, a Good Shepherd in Our Contemporary Time” is centered on both the missions of the Church and the School.
According to him, Catholic education is to teach the whole child: mind, body and spirit, hence the Catholic School Teachers as a professional has a mandate to ensure they take their task seriously.
“A professional teacher is someone who has the qualifications and competence in his/her field of study as well as the skills to carry out educational and teaching tasks effectively,” Mr. Batadjon noted.
He added: “Given the fact that the Catholic School Teacher does not operate in a vacuum, he/she needs to possess additional attributes to enhance his/her work aside being professional.”
The General Manager indicated that the Catholic Education Unit in Ghana “is charging all Catholic Schools through their teachers to consider the Unit’s Vision, Mission, Goal, Mandate and Core Values as captured in the discharge of their duties.”
Making reference to Pope Francis, the General Manager said “Catholic education is also Evangelization: Bearing Witness to the Joy of the Gospel and its Power to Renew our Communities and Provide Hope and Strength in Facing Wisely the Challenges of the Present Time.”
“With this huge responsibility on the shoulders of the Catholic School Teacher, it is high time we understood that teaching in a Catholic School is not limited to only the curriculum, and it is more of a vocation than a job,” he pointed out.
Therefore, according to Mr. Batadjon, it is equally important for the Catholic School Teacher to aspire to greatness by professionally upgrading himself/herself to take up leadership roles within our schools, communities and the society at large.
He enumerated the qualities the Catholic School Teacher should possess as a good shepherd. He said the teacher should have passion for teaching with emphasis on quality teaching and learning outcomes, ability to foster and sustain lifelong learning in learners and in oneself and have integrity, patience, understanding and the ability to sacrifice.
He also mentioned humility, excellent communication skills and good human relationship, respect, good character and obedience to the teachers’ code of conduct and the church’s directives and ability to develop learners socially, mentally and spiritually in a safe environment as some of the other qualities.
By Damian Avevor
