KENYA: Value Based Education and Character Formation, The Only Way To Transform Society, says Bishop Oballa
Rt. Rev. John Obala, KCCB Vice Chairman, Bishop of Ngong
The Bishop of Ngong, Rt. Rev. John Oballa Owaa, has called for adoption of value based education saying this will contribute to transformation of the society and enhance the quality of life.
Bishop Oballa said education should provide value for the children and bring up a holistic person. He lamented that parents who are first teachers of their children have abdicated their roles in the chase of elusive economic prosperity.
Quoting from a study conducted by Jesuit Hakimani Centre on value-based education, the bishop said 83% of parents acknowledge that they do not spend quality time with their children and hence miss an opportunity to nurture them into responsible people.
“Value based education will give children opportunity to transform the society,” said Bishop Oballa.
“Although parents have a responsibility to inculcate good values in their children, this is not happening. Most parents are too busy pursuing income generating ventures which do not often translate into an increased quality of life. They therefore miss the opportunity to nurture their children towards being morally upright persons. The gap left by parents in character formation of children is filled in by peers who are a great influence on the children especially at the adolescent stage.”
Bishop Oballa said technology has also emerged as one of the factors that is influencing character formation in children as mobile phones and the internet are now widely and readily available.
“Mobile telephones with internet facilities allow children to access content online. Unfortunately, parents have relegated their responsibilities to computers, mobile telephones, the internet, Day Care Centres and house-maids. All these cannot teach values, cannot contribute to good character formation and will not replace the parent. Children have become addicted to computer games, the internet and social media to fill in the gap left by lack of parental love, care and concern.”
Bishop Oballa urged parents to find time from their busy schedules to spend with their children, saying this will give them opportunity to inculcate value-based education in their children.
‘This is especially crucial in our country where every day we hear about corruption, misappropriation of funds, violence, robbery and killings/murder,” said the Bishop. “Value based education will not only give the children a strong moral foundation, but will also give them the opportunity to transform the society and build a nation that cares for the well-being of everyone, especially the poor and marginalized.”
∽End∽
By Samuel Waweru
