President Nana Akufo-Addo over the weekend reiterated his government’s plan to give churches more control in the management of mission schools.

[contextly_sidebar id=”PF7GN34gBmjw5EJ4v9rdPZdNS68mP2eP”]Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Trinity College in Accra on Saturday, President Akufo-Addo said he is confident the move to give the churches more control, will improve discipline among students.

“The traditions of discipline, hard-work and integrity that characterize the churches are needed in the country. That is why my government is keen on restoring more control to churches over the missionary schools. I’m glad that many religious groups now seem to want to concentrate on the tertiary sector in the provision of education. The exponential growth in the number of tertiary institutions in the last few years, certainly shows that has been the most popular decision by the churches and others that have gone into the sector,” the President stated.

Speaking on Eyewitness News however, Mr. Mubarak downplayed the move, arguing that these schools might eventually become centres of indoctrination when the religious bodies are given more power in their management.

“Individual churches or the mosques may have their individual agenda that may not be necessarily be the agenda of the country. We have a country that we have to run . Those schools might become centres for indoctrination and what kind of citizens do you want to produce?” he asked.

Gov’t must come clean on

The Minority Chief Whip also asked the President to come clean on how much control government intends to give to the religious bodies, since it was not clear whether government will fully handover the such schools to the churches or mosques.

“I think the President should come clear on what he means by more control because I don’t think it will be proper talking about handing over national assets to individuals. This may raise constitutional issues that may be very difficult to test at the Supreme Court. “

The 1984 take-over of the mission schools, largely placed the administration and management under government.

The churches for some years now have been calling on government to give them more control in some areas, citing issues of indiscipline among others.

The Catholic Bishops Conference and the Christian Council of Ghana have been at the fore front of this demand.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mission schools could be centres of indoctrination after ‘handover’ – Muntaka appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 1984 take over of the schools, largely placed the administration and management under government.

The churches for some years now have been calling on government to give them more control in some areas, citing issues of indiscipline among others.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7hq5wuiHtjDwLr69Al0t26bGVs8PiCF6″]The Catholic Bishops Conference and the Christian Council of Ghana have been at the fore front of this demand.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Trinity College in Accra on Saturday, President Akufo-Addo said he is confident the move to give the churches more control, will improve discipline among students.

“The traditions of discipline, hard-work and integrity that characterize the churches are needed in the country. That is why my government is keen on restoring more control to churches over the missionary schools. I’m glad that many religious groups now seem to want to concentrate on the tertiary sector in the provision of education. The exponential growth in the number of tertiary institutions in the last few years, certainly shows that has been the most popular decision by the churches and others that have gone into the sector.”

The President also appealed to the church to “take a look back at the early childhood sector.”

He recalled that though the church used to be “very active” in the sector, there is currently “obvious great grief” due to neglect.

Gov’t to hand over mission schools – Matthew Opoku Prempeh

The Minister of Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, had earlier indicated government’s preparedness to hand over mission schools to the churches that originally built and manage many of such schools.

He indicated that, the return of the mission schools to its former owners is a pledge by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that should be fulfilled.

Various religious groups, including the Christian Council of Ghana have for sometime now been calling for the reversal of a 1984 take-over of their schools which was basically set up to provide Christian education.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’ll give churches more control over mission schools – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Even though the Conference has declared its preparedness to take over the management of mission schools, it is insisting government should take up the responsibility of funding the schools’ activities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”tkaUOmm3ec2p2absI7ll67lTeU7ryIvC”]This position seems to be the point of disagreement between government and the Conference.

Speaking to Citi News, the President of the Conference, Archbishop Philip Naameh explained that the Conference’s call is borne out of a desire to address the deteriorating state of discipline and values in these schools, which they say is a cause for worry.

“The handing over is a question of effective management which is not the case as at now. The churches cannot discipline teachers who are in the school. Teachers can come early morning drunk. The churches do not have the power as at now, even though we are involved in education to sack those teachers.”

“This will not be the case when the handing over is done …churches don’t even have the right to come up with a syllabus which is not approved by the government so the education policy is still government but when it comes to the implementation, that is where the churches will be given a freerer hand but funding of education will still be the responsibility of government because they collect taxes. If government has a policy to make education more affordable to Ghanaian children why should those attending mission schools be exempted? We are only happy that at least the government is open to the idea but the announcement alone that they will hand over schools to the mission does not give any date.”

Government to hand over mission schools – Matthew Opoku Prempeh

The Minister of Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh had earlier indicated government’s preparedness to hand over mission schools to religious bodies.

He indicated that the return of the mission schools to its former owners is a pledge by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that should be fulfilled.

Various religious groups, including the Christian Council of Ghana have for sometime now been calling for the reversal of a 1984 take-over of their schools which was basically set up to provide Christian education.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Fund mission schools after handing over – Catholic Bishops to Gov’t  appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.