Catholic Bishops express concerns over removal from GES Council amid rising indiscipline

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has voiced its concerns over the Church's removal from the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council, arguing that this move has weakened the Church's ability to contribute to vital education policy discussions. The Conference asserts that the Catholic Church, being the second-largest provider of formal education in Ghana, has seen its influence gradually erode on the very platforms where decisions impacting the sector are made.

Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, highlighted this concern during a meeting with Parliament’s Chieftaincy, Culture and Religious Affairs Committee. He questioned why, given the Church's longstanding contribution to education and its expertise in promoting discipline and moral values, it should be absent from the GES Council.

"Where decisions are made on education we who contributed towards education are not there. Now we talk about indiscipline in schools as if we do not know why there is indiscipline," he questioned.

Gyamfi posited that the exclusion of the Church could have significant ramifications for tackling the rising issues of indiscipline and immorality among students, especially in Senior High Schools. He emphasized that faith-based education providers play a crucial role in shaping students' character and fostering responsible behavior, thus, they should have a seat at the table when it comes to education policy discussions.

"If the one whose core is to instill discipline and morality into people is eliminated and not given the right to do this, then why ask why there is indiscipline and immorality in the schools?" he asked.

The Conference is now urging for the inclusion of faith-based education providers in major policy and decision-making processes, asserting that their experience and contributions are indispensable for enhancing Ghana's education system.