Bishop Fianu expresses concern over government’s handling of Catholic Schools

Most Reverend Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD, Bishop of the Ho Diocese, has expressed the Catholic Church’s dissatisfaction with how politicians and government appointees manage its schools.

He noted that the failure of these key actors to engage with the Church has weakened the long-standing partnership between the government and the Catholic Church in Ghana’s education system.

According to Bishop Fianu, appointments and transfers of teachers to and from Catholic schools are often made without consulting the Church, leaving Catholic leaders uncertain about their role in the education sector. He raised these concerns at the Zonal observance of the National Education Forum (NEF) in Ho, which is being held under the theme “Transforming Education for a Sustainable Future.”

He further criticized the lack of consultation with religious stakeholders, such as the Catholic Church, on key educational matters, describing it as unacceptable and harmful to collaboration. He stressed that some Directors of Education had shown hostility toward the Church, which did not promote cooperation in delivering quality education.

Bishop Fianu also lamented the lack of opportunities for the Church to participate in the management of its schools, stating that this was eroding the faith-based identity of Catholic schools. He expressed concern over the exclusion of religious representatives from the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council in its last Act, which was passed by the 7th Parliament of the 8th Republic. He called for a revision of this decision, emphasizing that faith-based institutions play a crucial role in shaping the moral, ethical, and civic education of students.

He pointed out several additional challenges affecting Catholic schools, including the use of school compounds for structural development without consulting the Church, overcrowding in second-cycle schools, which negatively affects teacher-student ratios and contact hours, and inadequate infrastructure, which has placed strain on facilities originally designed for fewer students.

The Bishop reiterated that Catholic schools are an extension of the Church’s faith and urged the government to ensure that newly recruited Catholic teachers are posted to Catholic schools to help maintain their faith-based identity. He also called for a written policy outlining the partnership between the government and Mission and Unit Schools to ensure effective collaboration and quality education delivery.

Bishop Fianu acknowledged and appreciated President John Mahama and the Planning Committee for correcting an earlier mistake and extending an invitation to the Catholic Church to participate in the Forum. He expressed hope that the concerns raised would guide meaningful reforms in the education sector.

Professor Ben Q. Honyenuga, Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University, described the Forum as an opportunity to reform Ghana’s education system. He emphasized the need for strategic planning to ensure a future-focused approach to education and called for discussions on improving quality, strengthening infrastructure, and recognizing the contributions of faith-based institutions.

Prof. Smile Dzisi, a member of the Planning Committee, noted that the NEF is part of President Mahama’s commitment to reform education for national development and long-term sustainability. She explained that the consultation in the Volta Region was part of a broader national effort to engage citizens and gather their input on the future of education. The insights from these engagements, she assured, would help develop a comprehensive policy framework that ensures the long-term growth and success of Ghana’s education sector.