The General Manager of Catholic Schools in Ghana, Mr. Francis Batadjon, has paid a familiarisation visit to the diocese of Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The visit brought together all Local Managers and Heads of Catholic Schools in the diocese, held at the Alfons Merten Centre, Donkorkrom.
Also in the company of the General Manager were Mr. Jude Ajare, the Eastern Regional Manager of Catholic Schools, Ms. Vera Kumbal, who doubles as the Human Resource Personnel and the Girl Child Coordinator at the national office of the Catholic Schools, Ms. Mercy Lartey, who doubles as the General Secretary and the statistics officer at the national office of the Catholic Schools.
Also present at the gathering were Mr. Theo-Thad Mor-Sarcoh, Chairman of the Donkorkrom Diocesan Education Council, Mr. Matthew Robinson Apudego, Deputy Eastern Regional Manager of Catholic Schools, as well as the Out- Going Co-ordinator of Catholic Schools in Donkorkrom Diocese, other members of the Donkorkrom Diocesan Education Council, and Local Managers and Heads of Catholic Schools from the Donkorkrom Diocese.
In his welcome address (which was done on behalf of the bishop of the diocese), Mr. Matthew Robinson Apudego expressed his gratitude to the General Manager and his entourage for their first-ever visit to the Donkorkrom Diocese. Describing it as a sign of hope for a new dispensation.
The Donkorkrom Diocese, he indicated, has two administrative Districts, Kwahu Afram Plains North and South, respectively. There are nine (9) Junior High Schools and seventeen (17) Primary Schools. In addition, there are three (3) Private Basic Schools and two ( 2) Senior High Schools.
Education, he emphasised, is one of the major tools that the Catholic Church uses to carry out the message of evangelisation in the world. The church, through education, has ensured moral uprightness for both learners and educators to lay a good foundation for the younger generations to emulate.
He bemoaned the fallen standard of academic performance in the Catholic Schools in the diocese. He therefore called on the Head teachers, teachers, and learners to be disciplined in order to raise the standard in the Catholic Schools.
He also called on the General Manager to continue the practice of supplying teaching and learning materials through the regional office to the diocese, which he said has stopped for some time now. He did indicate that the materials were very helpful for the lower classes.
He also mentioned the lack of teachers in the Catholic Schools. The low number of Catholic teachers in the diocese is also a big challenge. This, he admitted, makes it difficult at times to carry out some Catholic practices in such schools.
The Chairman of the Donkorkrom Diocesan Education Council, Mr Theo-Thad Mor-Sarcoh, also expressed his gratitude to the General Manager and his entourage for their historic visit. He called for more such visits to deepen the collaboration between the national and the diocesan office.
By: Rev. Fr. Matthew Akakpo (DEPSOCOM DONKORKROM DIOCESE)
