The second National Catholic Education Forum in Ghana concluded with an urgent call: to strengthen the imprint of faith in schools. Gathered from March 10 to 15 in the Diocese of Koforidua, bishops, educators, and religious leaders charted a roadmap to reconcile spiritual mission with contemporary educational challenges.
Integral Education, a Pillar of National Resilience
Under the theme "Catholic Education for Integral Development: Shaping a Resilient and Inclusive Ghana," participants emphasized the central role of the Church in forming consciences. Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference (GCBC), stressed the need for a "renewed collaboration between the State and religious missions," recalling that the Church remains the country's second-largest provider of education.
Among the key resolutions: the creation of a five-year strategic framework by July 2025, intended to guide Catholic schools. The bishops also plan to increase priestly presence in institutions, multiply chapels, and ensure the rigorous teaching of doctrine. "Our schools must be beacons of truth, where every student discovers Christ," affirmed Bishop Gyamfi.
A Church-State Partnership to Rebalance
The forum demands the swift signing of a memorandum of understanding with the government, in accordance with the 2020 Pre-Tertiary Education Act. This document would officially recognize the role of Catholic managers in school administration. The prelates are also calling for a permanent seat on the National Education Council, "so that our voice is heard in structural decisions."
Another priority: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The bishops are requesting the creation of at least one center of excellence per region, integrating emerging technologies (robotics, green energy). "Training skilled hands and upright hearts is our duty," commented the Bishop of Sunyani.
The final document insists on the inclusion of students with disabilities, calling for adapted policies and accessible infrastructure. The issue of examination fraud was also addressed, with a demand for stricter sanctions against complicit teachers, parents, or students.
In conclusion, Bishop Gyamfi quoted the Epistle to the Philippians:
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
An exhortation to elevate souls as much as minds, in a Ghana in search of bearings.