Catholic Bishops Advocates for Quality Education

The catholic Bishops of Nigeria are playing a great role in advocating for quality education for Nigerian citizens.

CHURCH AND STATE PARTNERSHIP IN THE PROVISION OF QUALITY EDUCATION

Communiqué at the End of the First Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Divine Love Retreat and Conference Centre Sabon Lugbe, Abuja,

March 8-14, 2014

• .       Preamble

We the members of catholic bishops’ conference of Nigeria (CBCN), at the conclusion of our first plenary meeting of the year 2014, send prayerful greetings to the church and the people of Nigeria. At the divine love retreat and conference centre (DRACC), Sabon-Lugbe, Abuja, from March 8 to 14, 2014, we prayed and reflected on the theme: “Church and state Partnership in Providing Quality Education for the Nigerian People”. We now share the fruits of our reflection with the church and the Nation.

•      Education in Nation Building

History shows that the church started very early to invest heavily and fruitfully in quality education in what is now known as Nigeria. She established schools which were known for their good academic and moral standards and their non-discriminatory policies, even in the difficult terrain of rural Nigeria. Prior to the government take-over of schools in the 1970s both the Church and the State were partners in education. As a result of the take-over, the initiatives of voluntary agencies were stifled, and the quality of education in Nigeria experienced and still experiences a sharp decline.

• Provision of Quality Education

The good health of a nation is largely dependent on the quality of education of her citizens. The numerous problems affecting our country Nigeria are very obvious: corruption, abuse of power, insecurity, poverty, discrimination, to name but a few. We cannot confront these challenges without investing in the provision of quality education. With integral education, the human person is formed to be loving and caring, able to actualize his or her potential, contribute to the attainment of the common good and fulfill his or her aspiration. Quality education in this respect has a religious and moral content. Education, in the analysis, is a means of cooperating with God to overcome evil and bring out the best in the human person. 

•      Challenges facing the Education sector

Nigerians have a deep hunger for education. The quality of facilities in our schools, secondary schools, polytechnics and universities is not commensurate with the announced budgetary allocation, a fact which strongly suggests the invasion of the education space by corruption and misappropriation of public funds. The high cost of quality education places it well beyond the reach of the poor. Yet, some Nigerian parents are willing to sacrifice much, including personal comfort, in order to ensure that their children receive good education. Not finding schools good enough within Nigeria for their children, they send them around the world, not only to countries of Africa, but even to Europe, America and Asia.

The provision of high quality education that imparts intellectual, moral and professional competence, the good state of facilities in our institutions of learning, adequate remuneration of those who work in them, these and related factors pose grave fiscal challenges. The future of the education sector in Nigeria largely depends on planning, funding and proper management.

•         Funding of Education and Partner-Friendly Policies

Nigeria, therefore, needs to take an urgent look at the regulatory framework in the education sector. The current formulation and execution of policies in the education sector do not enable public-private partnership. We therefore urge Government to abrogate policies that impede partnership in education.

On the one hand, experience has shown that Government’s sole funding of education is not realistic in our present circumstances. On the other hand, there are many parents who cannot fund the education of their children without assistance. This should not make Government take over the role that highly belongs to parents. Rather, Government should, in line with the principle of subsidiary, assist parents to play that role, so as to enable them to exercise their right to choose the type of education they want for their children. There is therefore, need for synergy in funding education in Nigeria.

The provision of quality education should involve the government, parents, religious institutions and other corporate bodies. Nigerian children studying in mission and private schools     should not be discriminated against. They have equal right to be properly educated. Their parents are tax payers. Government should assist in the provision of the necessary infrastructure, tax relief for parents of children in school and demand minimal charges on the land on which mission and private schools are built. In addition, in the spirit of partnership, we urge Government to-reinstate grants-in-aid to mission schools, in order to make quality education affordable.   

•       Return of Schools to their Original Owners

In light of the foregoing, we acknowledge the wisdom and courage of leadership in some state government that have returned the schools to their original owners and have created a measure   of partnership with them. Some States like Anambra and Benue have gone further to allocate funds for the rehabilitation of those schools returned. This step has led to the improvement of infrastructure and learning environments in such schools. These positive results lead us to renew our call for the return of the remaining schools to their original owners.

•        Insecurity and Destruction of Life

We bemoan heightened insecurity in our country. in recent times we have seen how the problem of insecurity affects education. The mindless massacre of innocent students’ right in their schools in the North Eastern States of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe is a very painful case. Despite the efforts of security agencies, life and property in Nigeria are still exposed to people of wicked intentions. While we commend the work of men and women in the security agencies, we urge government to be proactive and to ensure that they are better equipped and motivated to assume their responsibilities of protecting the land and its citizens. We ask the government to investigate escalating conflicts between cattle-rearers and indigenous communities in all States of the North and the Middle Belt with a view to finding lasting solutions for peace and reconciliation. It needs to assist victims of the Boko-Haram insurgency, and of the murderous Herdsmen……………….

Signed:

Most Rev. Ignatius KAIGAMA Archbishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, President.        

Most Rev. William AVENYA Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Secretary.