Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
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| Dr. Richard Belio Kipsang, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Basic Education in the Ministry of Education |
The Ministry of Education in Kenya has promised that religious leaders will have a chance to apply for job positions in the education sector following the fact that faith-based schools produced holistic citizens and their input will be relevant.
“We engaged with some of our religious leaders and we all agreed that we shall be working with the Church. As we advertise for job positions in the teaching service, we shall encourage ordained religious leaders to apply,” Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Basic Education in the Ministry of Education Dr. Richard Belio Kipsang said, while addressing hundreds of Catholic teachers attending conference of Catholic Private Educational Institutions Association (CaPEIA).
Making justification as to why religious leaders should have positions in the teaching service, Dr. Richard Belio Kipsang who is former deputy Chief Executive Officer and the Head of Operations at Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) said, “I can tell you there is a huge difference in the way students and young people who have gone through faith based institutions and more especially Catholic institutions in the way the approach life. That is why as government we insist on value based education.”
According to Dr. Kipsang, religious leaders will be in a position to mould students and the young people will also have respect and confidence in them. Besides the Principal Secretary (PS) said, “When we employ these religious leaders, we can concretize the chaplaincy and what we have always wanted.”
The Education Officer who was speaking at the Nairobi-based Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education Prof. George Albert Magoha, acknowledged that people prefer Catholic schools to other institutions because of the quality education they offer.
“So many people would like to be educated by Catholic institutions. They see a future by going to institutions managed by the Catholic Church. They know that they get the best not only from education but also to develop a holistic person,” Dr. Kipsang disclosed Thursday, March 12, while speaking to approximately 600 participants who are members of CaPEIA drawn from all Catholic dioceses within Kenya and added, “We are not in doubt as the Ministry of Education of the quality of Catholic education.”
Speaking of the need for all children to have holistic formation from schools, the PS encouraged collaboration of Catholic schools with non-Catholic schools so that this desire can be realized.
“I know as a Church you have some pastoral trainings and character formation mainly for Catholic schools. I think where we may be having other schools which may not necessarily be Catholic sponsored and who are willing to participate we shall encourage that we partner and work together so that we can be able to assist our children,” Dr. Kipsang who also chairs the Operations Committee, Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA) stated in reference to having quality formation for all children.
The four-day conference which marked the 6th edition since CaPEIA was established, discussed several topics for capacity building including; promoting mental psychological and emotional health in the school community, using stories and songs to inculcate values in children, the role of catholic schools in provision of value based education and teachers role in student’s Spiritual and character formation among others.
In regard to the presented topics during the conference the PS said, “Catholic schools are known for character formation and development of social skills and values. I am therefore delighted that you are discussing strategies of enhancing an acquisition of practices and competences that focus on values.”
Meeting annually since 2015, CaPEIA aims at uniting all Catholic Private Educational Institutions in Kenya to promote spiritual values and formation. The forum is mainly for capacity building for the head teachers, principals, directors and rectors of various Catholic Private Institutions.