Leaders of Catholic education in Africa and Madagascar met in Benoni, South Africa for a five-day conference to discuss the status of Catholic education on the continent and to elect the new administration for the next three years.
During the conference themed ‘Walking Together as Leaders of Catholic Education in Africa and Madagascar’, national directors of Catholic education shared experiences and challenges faced in their respective countries.
Among some of the topics of discussion during the first International Catholic Education Office – Africa (IOCE) conference which saw the participation of national directors of catholic education from 25 countries, were issues concerning the financial sustainability of Catholic schools, access to Catholic education, substance abuse, childhood marriages in some parts of Africa and corporation with the local government.
Catholic education approach is holistic
In her address to participants gathered at Lumko Institute and Conference Centre, the South African minister of basic education Angie Motshekga commended the contribution of Catholic schools to education in South Africa and for supporting government initiatives.
“Catholic schools strive for academic excellence and focus on nurturing social and conscious citizens. These institutions instil a deep awareness, encourage students to become proactive members, commit to making a difference and have a holistic approach to education as instrumental in shaping the moral and ethical fabric,” said Minister Motshekga.
She went on to laud the role of Catholic education saying it “extends beyond the classroom…It is about moulding individuals who carry forward the values of compassion, integrity and service. As we navigate the complexities of modern society, the church’s guidance is invaluable in promoting moral regeneration. We can address our communities’ moral and ethical challenges by reinforcing these core values…May you live long enough and produce more civic-minded youngsters”.
All children have the right to education
Although keeping a girl child in school remains a challenge, some countries in Africa are struggling with keeping the boy child in school due to various reasons such as forced recruitment of children especially boys into the armed forces or armed groups. The “no child should stay behind with no school placement” policy in Namibia is also supported by the Catholic Bishops Conference affirmed Eddy Bezuidenhout the National Director of Catholic Education.
“First of all,” Bezuidenhout said, “it is the advocacy that was there for the girl child to be promoted, so boys felt a little bit discriminated against, or they felt that they did not get the necessary attention. and other social and economic circumstances” such as heading families in the event of the loss of the breadwinner as “the eldest boy or any other boy” must “look for income to retain their siblings within education.”
Meanwhile, in South Africa, the Catholic Institute of Education was commended for its support of refugees and undocumented school learners. During a visit to the Dominican Convent School in Belgravia, Johannesburg, school principal Mark Potterton spoke about the Three2Six project and how migrant and refugee children have access to free education and assistance to legalise their status.
Established in 1952 in Switzerland, the Catholic International Education Office (IOCE) is a Catholic-inspired educational project that encourages research into and the study of the specific contribution made by Catholic schools to education, and how it can meet the needs and the demands of different social and cultural environments.
The IOCE IS recognized as an international Catholic organization by the Holy See and it works in close collaboration with the Dicastery for Culture and Catholic Education (Vatican). It has consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC, Geneva, and New York), and UNESCO.
