TANZANIA: TEC Prioritizes Catechism to children in schools
Fr Liston Lukoo
Sarah Pelaji
Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), has insisted that all Catholic Dioceses ought to strategies on religious education and morals to all schools and universities.
This includes both public, private and Catholic owned schools from primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and Universities.
The Head of Catechesis Department of TEC Fr. Liston Lukoo has stated that the world is increasingly becoming multicultural and multi-religious, and that through the influence of globalization individuals are becoming more interconnected.
“Our Globalization has had varied impacts, and in some cases mass information without context, adequate verification or authentic connection has perpetuated discrimination and immoral behaviors”, he said.
He said this on 26th July 2023 during a pastoral meeting which involved the lay leaders in parish council, priests and the Religious men and women at St. Peter Minor seminary in Morogoro Diocese.
“Bishops in Tanzania see the need for everyone, especially children, to know the basic beliefs of their Catholic religions.
He underscored that religious education courses are important for all students so that they can gain conceptual understanding of religion, which can heighten empathy and understanding.
“Therefore, TEC insists each Catholic Diocese to coordinate and implement religious education and moral to our children from a young age until they become adults,” For Lukoo insisted.
He also said that the Education Department is working very closely with the local bishops of all the 34 Catholic Dioceses in Tanzania, through the Diocesan Directors of Catechesis, to ensure that the teachings of faith and morals are given priorities.
However, despite the efforts, there is a shortage of catechists to teach religion in schools, colleges and universities. The Church depends on Catechists who are fewer than the schools.
He then pointed out that TEC is in the process of establishing Catechetical Colleges in Catholic Dioceses in order to have enough Catechists.
In fact, children’s Catechism is one of the major resolutions of the Bishop’s Permanent Council meeting which was held in June 2023. They insisted on the renewal of religious education in primary and secondary schools to save the large wave of children who are invading other religious denominations that give religious teachings which are not compatible with Catholicism.
The bishops said Catechism to children is not an optional, rather mandatory so as they build the foundations of Catholic faith about what the Bible says, Catholic tradition and Social teachings.
“There are no teachers who teach religion in primary and secondary schools. This is alarming us because with this tendency, there is a high possibility within the next three years, children will completely forget about Catholicism and Christianity. So, let us reflect on how we have ended up leaving our schools and children, to be replaced with another religion.”
“There is a need to create a catechetical committee in the diocese, especially a committee for teaching in primary schools and a committee that will be responsible for teaching religion in secondary schools. The worst thing is that even in our Catholic owned schools, there is no one teaching religion. We need to revive our pastoral plan and service to our children,” Fr Lukoo stated.
He has requested the priests, Religious men and women to volunteer teaching religion in schools.
However, he also insisted that the lay people are not excluding for evangelization, and that it is not only the responsibility of the priests and Religious.
