The Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom has organised a Workshop on Capacity Building for Heads of Catholic Schools in the Vicariate on the theme “Ineffective supervision in Catholic Schools”.
This Workshop took place at the Alfons Merten’s Centre, Donkorkrom on Thursday, March 21, 2024, during which the Bishop also inaugurated the Education Council of the Apostolic Vicariate.
Mr. Theo-Thad Mor-Sarcoh, former Headmaster of Donkorkrom Agricultural Senior High School (DASHS) chaired the occasion.
In his keynote address, the Bishop explained the reason for the Workshop with the Catholic School Heads, saying “As we continue to engage the government and all stakeholders on the needed and urgent reforms in the education sector of our nation to better serve our good purpose as a country, we as a local Church have to do what is possible and within our means to effecting the positive change that we all desire as a Church”.
To this end, the Bishop reiterated: “We must begin on a path towards improving our education system by looking inwardly and putting our own house, as it were, in order; for as the saying goes “charity begins at home!”.
He added: “We must first look at our own environment, the systems in our schools, the depth of our own faith (especially for those of us who are Catholics), the level of your commitment and dedication to your profession as teachers and care-givers to our school children, your impact on the children you teach and what you bring into their formation, and presenting yourselves as role models and inspiration for them, and helping them to develop and to live true human and Gospel values”.
Huge as the task of School Heads may be, the Bishop noted that it must start from somewhere, hence, the capacity building workshop.
He believed that the input, discussions and sharing on the topic will serve to boost their interest and skills for efficient discharge of their duties and responsibilities as the number one Lady or Gentleman in their respective schools.
The Bishop observed that the history of the Catholic Church in Ghana shows that, since the beginning of Catholicism in the then Gold Coast, over a century ago, education has been one of the main means of evangelisation.
He further noted that majority of the first and leading basic schools and other educational institutions in the country were founded by the early Catholic missionaries belonging to religious institutes, and consecrated men and women who came into the country to propagate the Catholic faith.
And for several years, he continued, the Church had been in full control of all her established schools. Priests and Religious were Local Managers of Catholic Schools who worked closely with the District, Regional and General Managers of Catholic Schools to ensure quality teaching and learning and efficiency in education.
The Bishop affirmed that during those years, true Catholic presence could easily be seen and felt in all Catholic schools, without exception, stating “Catholic worship at daily morning and closing assembly, basic Catholic prayers like the Angelus, recitation of the Rosary, stations of the Cross, teaching catechesis and celebrating the sacraments of initiations in the schools periodically, celebrating Mass in the schools regularly, encouraging and enforcing Sunday Mass among all our school children and students, observing and celebrating school Mass on major feasts and solemnities, and many more.”
Academic and moral discipline among both school children/students and teachers was ensured.
The Chief Shepherd underlined that through such well developed and supervised curriculum, by the time the Catholic child passed through basic and secondary school, he/she had developed deep and firm faith, with better understanding, appreciation and love for what he/she believed, and to him, that was a good foundation enough for youth to build their future life.
Bishop Asiedu however lamented over the indiscriminate encroachment of politics into the Ghana Education system in recent years which has destroyed the one time solid Catholic/Christian foundation and formation which was closely linked to education in Catholic schools.
This, he said, had resulted in total religious and moral decadence among the children and the youths – gross disrespect, laziness, indiscipline, lack of commitment, ready to do anything to get rich overnight, and the likes.
“That is how bad the situation is today with regards to the education and formation of our children and the youth of our country” he regretted.
He further intimated that persistent engagements with successive governments by the faith-based organizations to reclaim their schools have been fruitless. “Now, the Church practically has no say in the running of schools that she founded. Our Catholic faithful, priests and religious continue to push and wail, that the Bishops should reclaim the management and control of our Catholic Schools from the political influence and propaganda of the government”.
The Bishop remarked that preparations are underway for a National Catholic Education Forum to be organized this year to deliberate with other stakeholders on all the concerns raised about the deplorable situation of the education system in the country today and look for a better way forward.
The Bishop of Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate recommended and highly encouraged the School heads to observe some important catholic practices in the Catholic schools, namely:
- The daily school worship at morning and closing assemblies.
- The Wednesday school worship
- The Catholic Education Week celebration
- Observing and celebrating Mass on major feasts and solemnities like All Saints Day and the feast of Ascension of our Lord.
- Marking and celebrating the feast day of your respective institutions – especially, but not only, second cycle schools
- Fidelis and St. Mary celebrating the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas together and alternatively.
- A day of prayer and Mass for all Catholic final year students before the start of the BECE/WASSE examinations.
- Chaplains/heads encouraging and insisting on basic Catholic prayers like the Angelus, Divine Mercy, Rosary, etc.
- Catholic presence in our schools must be seen and felt – the crucifix must be in all classrooms, staff rooms and offices.
- Co-operation with local managers and the Coordinator for Catholic Schools.
- Academic improvement in our schools
- Discipline among teaching staff, school children/students, non-teaching staff.
He brought it to the knowledge of the Catholic School heads that the priests of the various parishes who are the Local Managers of the Catholic schools, had been duly instructed to extend pastoral care to all institutions within their jurisdiction.
He therefore urged them to get the priests involved and ask for their help and ensure that these recommendations are practiced in their schools.
Similarly, Bishop Asiedu expressed that he expects a good and harmonious working relationship between the heads of schools under the Catholic Education Unit in the Vicariate, and the Vicariate Education Council in improving education in general within the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom.
The Bishop, in the name of the Catholic Church, appreciated the Catholic School Heads and their staff members, in absentia, in their crucial role in imparting knowledge and skills to children and youths who are the future of the Church and the nation.
He assured them of his special prayers, their families, loved ones, and all who collaborate with them for the success and good of their work.
Other activities that featured during the Workshop included: Discussions among the Catholic School Heads based on the Bishop’s address, taking of the Oath of Office by the Education Council members and their official inauguration by the bishop.
Inaugurating the Vicariate Education Council, the Bishop reminded the members of their functions as outlined in the Ghana Education Policies publication of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, as follows:
- Advice the Local Ordinary on all education matters in the Vicariate.
- Coordinate the Education policy, programmes and procedures of the Catholic Church in the Vicariate.
- Stimulate relationships and exchange networking with members and stakeholders.
- Be responsible for giving guidelines to the various Parish Education Committees.
- Develop mechanisms to enable all our stakeholders to be involved in planning programmes that directly affect them.
- Develop and manage education fund for the Vicariate.
- Ensure accountability in the area of funds and other resources in the Vicariate.
- Respond to national and regional educational issues of concern to the Church in the Vicariate; and
- Undertake any other activity that may be referred to it by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Local Ordinary and the Parish Education Committees.
The members of Education Council are: Mr. Theo-Thad Mor-Sarcoh (Chairman), Rev. Fr. Leopold Ettuh (Secretary), Rev. Sr. Dora Pearl Tsetse (Member), Ms. Fenuku Esther Adzo (Member), Mr. Adjei Simon (Member), Mr. Mathew Robinson Apudego (Member) and Mr. Michael K. Adamfo (Member).
The Bishop urged the Heads to do everything possible to revive the Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate Catholic Teachers’ Union which had been dormant and hibernating for years now due to the transfer of some Catholic teachers from the Vicariate, most of whom were the founding members and or executive members of the Union.
He added that he, alongside Mr. Matthew Apudego, the Catholic Schools Coordinator, and some few others have tried in the past to revive the Union but without success.
Bishop Asiedu prayed and hoped, with eager longing for the ‘resurrection’ of the Catholic Teachers’ Union with the help of the just inaugurated Education Council.
By: Department of Social Communication (DEPSOCOM)
Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate
