MALAWI: ECM Launches Catholic Education Policy
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| Group that attended the Launch |
The Catholic Education Commission
of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) on Wednesday April 15, 2015
launched the Catholic education policy at a function graced by His Lordship
Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga diocese and held at Capital Hotel in
Lilongwe.
Speaking at the launching event
of the policy, Bishop Mtumbuka who is the Bishop chair for education commission
said the policy is crucial as it strives to promote the quality of education in
Catholic schools and the nation at large.
of the policy, Bishop Mtumbuka who is the Bishop chair for education commission
said the policy is crucial as it strives to promote the quality of education in
Catholic schools and the nation at large.
Bishop Mtumbuka expressed
gratitude to the government of Malawi for various support rendered to the
Catholic Church and education component of the church is now spared.
gratitude to the government of Malawi for various support rendered to the
Catholic Church and education component of the church is now spared.
“As a Church we started receiving
support from government in 1926 which is a long time ago. We are thankful for
the Ministry of education’s support to grand-aided school like those that we
have as a Catholic Church,” he said.
support from government in 1926 which is a long time ago. We are thankful for
the Ministry of education’s support to grand-aided school like those that we
have as a Catholic Church,” he said.
He said while the church
acknowledges the support from government but this thank you also goes to the
people of Malawi who support Catholic schools through their taxes paid to
government.
acknowledges the support from government but this thank you also goes to the
people of Malawi who support Catholic schools through their taxes paid to
government.
Bishop Mtumbuka who is also the
Vice Chairman for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi observed numerous
challenges that the education sector in the country is facing hence need to be
addressed.
Vice Chairman for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi observed numerous
challenges that the education sector in the country is facing hence need to be
addressed.
He spoke of the shortage of
personnel and an increase number of orphans requiring assistance, HIV and Aids,
poverty, poor water and sanitation facilities lack of school infrastructure,
teaching and learning materials and unqualified teachers as the major
challenges which the church cannot manage alone.
personnel and an increase number of orphans requiring assistance, HIV and Aids,
poverty, poor water and sanitation facilities lack of school infrastructure,
teaching and learning materials and unqualified teachers as the major
challenges which the church cannot manage alone.
According to Bishop Mtumbuka, the
relevance of these challenges emerges from the context of the social, cultural
and religious complexity in which young people are growing up in.
relevance of these challenges emerges from the context of the social, cultural
and religious complexity in which young people are growing up in.
“The launch of the policy has
come about this time because times when the church, through our education
commission, would want to keep up with the standards,” he said adding that “It
is anticipated that the Catholic Education Policy will offer direction to
stimulate those who have been given the mandate of managing Catholic education
institution to ensure that the original aim for establishing the institutions
is revived.”
come about this time because times when the church, through our education
commission, would want to keep up with the standards,” he said adding that “It
is anticipated that the Catholic Education Policy will offer direction to
stimulate those who have been given the mandate of managing Catholic education
institution to ensure that the original aim for establishing the institutions
is revived.”
For his part, Principal Secretary
in the Ministry of Education Charles Msosa hailed the Catholic Church for
coming up with the policy describing it as a good development to the education
sector as standards of education are improving day by day.
in the Ministry of Education Charles Msosa hailed the Catholic Church for
coming up with the policy describing it as a good development to the education
sector as standards of education are improving day by day.
“This is a big step as it will result in a more focused
approach to addressing some of the problems in the education sector. We applaud
the Commission for this initiative which is a sure sign of commitment to
improve education outcomes for all Malawians,” Msosa said adding that “The
Ministry will continue to support the Catholic Education Commission where
possible as we strive to achieve our goals in education and also bring this new
policy to life.”
approach to addressing some of the problems in the education sector. We applaud
the Commission for this initiative which is a sure sign of commitment to
improve education outcomes for all Malawians,” Msosa said adding that “The
Ministry will continue to support the Catholic Education Commission where
possible as we strive to achieve our goals in education and also bring this new
policy to life.”
The Catholic Education Commission has ably developed
the policy with financial support from the US Bishop Conference through
Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
the policy with financial support from the US Bishop Conference through
Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
By Prince Henderson-ECM
Communications Officer
Communications Officer
