This year’s Catholic Education Week which would run from January 26 to February 2, 2025, has been launched by the St. Michael R/C School, in the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom, Eastern Region of Ghana.
The week-long celebration is under the Theme: “The Catholic School Teacher; a Good Shepherd in our Contemporary Time”.
The January 26, 2025 launching ceremony performed during the Sunday Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Vincent Amuzu Asafo, SVD, Assistant Cathedral Administrator, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Donkorkrom, featured learners from both the St. Michael R/C Primary School as well as the Junior High School, together with their headteachers, Madam Kuunuba N. Lucy and Mr. Kennedy Fofie, respectively,.
Present were teachers, and Catholic children from other schools around.
Speaking during the launching, Mr. Kennedy Fofie, Headteacher of St. Michael JHS, underscored the pivotal role of Catholic Education in the life of a Ghanaian child, saying that “Catholic Education ensures a holistic quality formation of our students who selflessly and responsibly transform their communities through the proper professional use of resources available to them”.
The Headteacher further expressed that the theme for the year’s celebration: “The Catholic School Teacher; a Good Shepherd in our Contemporary Time” is very apt as it illustrates what society perceives of teachers in general.
“It is the perception of most people that the success of school graduates depends largely on the education they receive in their various schools under the tutelage of their leaders,” he noted, adding that the success of Catholic School graduates is dependent on both the church and her schools.
Celebrating the fact that most Catholic Schools are known for their sound and holistic educational delivery, the school head, however, challenged Catholic School teachers to do more, for, “there is more room for improvement”.
Mr. Fofie further underpinned the role of the Church and the School in relation to the theme chosen for the celebration of the Catholic Education Week, which according to him, is centred on both the missions of the Church and the school.
The principal role of the Catholic Church, he explained, is to evangelise, seek for righteousness, justice and peace, as well as work towards the salvation of humankind and the betterment of the world.
He added that the school exists to teach, research and disseminate information on solving societal ills, and the effectiveness of the school is largely dependent on the professionalism of the teacher manning it.
Defining a professional teacher as one 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, the Catholic School head however reiterated the fact that a Catholic teacher, in addition to being professional must possess some additional attributes that would enhance his/her work.
To be more professional and effective in their work, Mr. Fofie urged all Catholic teachers to take into serious consideration the Vision, Mission, Goal, Mandate and Core Values of the Catholic Education Unit in Ghana.
Mindful of the upsurge in social vices and corrupt practices in contemporary times, the headmaster called on the Catholic teachers, who are looked upon as formators and agents of positive change, to rise up amidst these realities and work hard towards the production of good and responsible citizens that will make Ghana and the world at large, a better place.
According to the headteacher, the week-long celebration will comprise activities such as marching through the principal streets of Donkorkrom to create awareness about the Celebration, Holy Mass and a Talk by the local Manager on the theme for the Celebration. Others will include Games and Quiz Competition, a Durba in the school, where there will be a talk on the topic “Maintaining the Catholic Identity of our Schools,” all interspersed within the days, culminating in a Thanksgiving Mass on Sunday 2nd February, to climax the Celebration.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate)
