ZAMBIA: Diocesan Education Secretaries Discuss Catholic Identity and Ethos in Catholic Learning Institutions

Mwenya Mukuka

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has applauded the work being done in Catholic learning institutions in Zambia.

This is despite facing a number of challenges, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the high cost of essential commodities and services and funding constraints.

ZCCB Secretary General Father Cleophas Lungu has since sent on behalf of the bishops, hearty congratulations to the National and Diocesan Education Secretaries for successfully managing the Covid-19 situation well in Catholic schools, colleges and universities; for scoring excellent results at both Grade 9 and Grade 12 level and continued offering of quality education to Zambians, including children from poor and vulnerable households.

Fr. Lungu was speaking in Lusaka on Monday, 31^st May, 2021 when he opened ZCCB Diocesan Education Secretaries’ meeting.

Other issues discussed during the meeting were the Catholic identity and ethos in Catholic learning institutions as well as addressing disciplinary issues.

“From its inception, the strategic approach of the Catholic Church in Zambia has been to offer and promote integral education that is value based. I therefore wish to exhort you to engage in a genuine dialogue that will result in making key recommendations that will help the local Church advance the ideals of Catholic education,” he said.

Meanwhile the two–day annual meeting for the Diocesan Education Secretaries has acquainted themselves with the ethos and values of Catholic Schools, the phenomena of bullying and discipline in Catholic schools and governance in Catholic schools.

ZCCB National Education Secretary Fr. Leonard Namuhumba disclosed to the Catholic Media Services that the church in Zambia is worried about the Catholic identity in her schools.

Father Namuhumba said that every person involved in Catholic education ought to be conversant with the Catholic ethos and the Gospel values.

“It is the duty of the proprietors of Catholic Schools, managing agencies, boards of management, school management teams and school members of staff to ensure that the Catholic character is reflected in all the policies, structures and in the daily life of the learners and staff,” he added.

He further said bullying and indiscipline in schools must stop and that schools should re-examine the methods of enforcing discipline they are currently using.