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	Rev. Fr. Dr. 	Ozor Damian Ozoani 
Ikechkwu J. Ani 

colle8e Eke . 
• -'=".,-~ ROSES & THORNS 

Dr. Paul Enebechi 

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Church-State Collaboration in theEducation Sector 
Interview with Rev Fr Dr Ikechukwu Ani, 
	r-- 	E_d_u_c_a~ti.on Secretary, Catholic Diocese of Enugu 
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L.;.._ 	___,' I 
Could' you please explain the 
word Education to us? . 

These days everybody is talking 
about the education sector in Nigeria. 
In very. wide sense of the word, 
education is understood to be any act 
or experience that has a formative 
effect on the mind, or physical ability 
of an individual. In its technical 
sense, education describes the 
process by which society deliberately 
transmits-its accumulated knowledge, 
skills and values from one generation 
to another. 
The etymology of the word 
"education" lays the foundation for 
the above understanding of the 
process of education. Its Latin origin 
is -educare, which means to "bring 
up". This is closely related to educere, 
which means to "bring out", "bring 
forth what is within", "bring out 
potential". This again has to do with 
ducere, meaning to lead. 
When we speak of the education 
sector in Nigeria, we focus attention 
on those institutions formally' 
recognized and approved by the 
Federal Government of Nigeria for 
purposes of transmitting knowledge, 
skills and values to her citizens from 
one generation to another, The 
schools, like your own school, are the 
equipped places for what we fondly 
refer to as formal education. 
Why was it necessary to return 
schools to the Catholic Mission in 
EnuguState? 

 The Catholic Church is a major 
stakeholder in education. It is tht<.. 
central mandate of the Cbm:cb to 
teach all peoples.The Catholic 

Church polIcy on education upholds 
.. that schools be established to take 
care of children and young people "in 

such a way that their physical, 
intellectual, moral and spiritual 
senses develop in harmonious 
manner, so that they may .attain a 
greater sense. of responsibility, and 
right use of freedom and be formed to 
take 'an active part in social life ". 
Within the territories ofEnugu State, 
the Catholic Church had 
implemented this noble policy by 
establishing many primary and post 
primary schools, which contributed 
to the integral growth and 
development of young people. As 
Voluntary Agency Catholic Mission 
Schools, these academic institutions 
had been evidently well positioned in . 
the society as centres for moral and 
academic excellence for both catholic 
and non-catholic children of Nigeria 
and beyond. 
We can say that one of the bitter 
outcomes of the hostilities of the civil 
war in Nigeria was the forceful 
takeover' of renowned Voluntary 
Agency Catholic Mission.schools by 
the Nigerian Government in the year 
1970. Since this takeover, we have 
recorded a steady decline in academic . 
standard and dramatic decadence in 
moral integrity. The total breakdown 
of the moral fabric of the society rears 
its ugly head in the different forms of 
corruption that are commonplace 
today in our country, 
A fter many years of sustained 
dialogue and friendly negotiation, the 
Enugu State Government returned all 
the Voluntary Agency Mission 
schools in the State to their rightful 
owners, with effect from September 
01, 2009. The return of schools to the 
Missions (Anglican, Catholic & 
Methodist) is seen as one major way 
of arresting the degeneration of the 
education sector in Enugu State. It is , 
intended to be' one of the immediate 
corrective options to reintroduce 

. discipline . and good morals. into 
schools, thereby bringing back the, 
lost glory of education system in the 
country. It is expected that more 
children, Catholics and non- 
Catholics, in these schools would 
begin to be morally transformed and 
intellectually well fed. You know that 
today other States. in Nigeria have 
. followed the good example of Enugu 
State. 
With the return of schools to the 
, Catholic Church as the rightful owner 
of the academic institutions in 
question, Enugu State has' also 
corrected a situation of injustice in the 
State. The schools were well' 
established and properly managed 
through the instrumentality of the 
Catholic Church and there was no just 
reason to take them away from the 
Church. It is simply proper and just 
that these schools have been returned 
to their rightful owners and 
managers. We are grateful to the 
Governor ofEnugu State for this clear 
stand against any form of injustice in 
governance. 

Wh"at steps has the Catholic Church 
taken to revitalize the Education 
Sector in Enugu State? 
We thank the Bishops ofNigeria, who 
insisted that the mission schools be 
returned to their rightful O\'1l1C;:S. \Y:; 
are greatly indebted to Enugu State 
Government under the life-elevating 
and competent leadership' of 
Governor S.l. Chime, This is our 
chancy to implement all the good 
ideas we have about education in the 
f

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On Mode of 
Admission: 
A 
voluntary 
agency 
shall be 
responsible. 

Jor the 
admission 
oj students 
into its 
schools. A 
. voluntary 
agency shall not discriminate against 
 be an exception. 
students Jor admission on ground 0 We insist that the staff and students 

rei i g ion 0 rot her e t h n i c should be punctual to school daily 
consideration. " The students will be and beginning with the assembly. We 
free to practice their religion: insist that lesson notes must be 
On the issue of Staff, the following written correctly. We undertake well 
provisions were made: All the arranged and properly executed 
government teaching and non- supervision to ensure that the quality 
teaching staff members in the post. of teaching and learning in the 
primary schools are described to be schools is being continuously 
on loan to us. The government will updated. 

continue to pay their salaries until We insist that funds provided for the 
. after' 5 years from the date of the development of schools are 
return of schools. At the expiration· of judiciously used for that purpose. We 
the five years the staff of the stand vehemently against the 
government will have the option of collection of any form of illegal fees. 
remaining with us or. going back to We request every member of the staff 
•	What were the Terms for the return the government. to understand that education involves 
of Schools by Enugu State Staff of primary schools who are integral development of the child. It 
Government? employed by the State shall remain in sounds therefore absurd to attend 
You know it is. the responsibility of the employment of the State, "subject schooljust once or twice aweek. 
the government to see that her nevertheless to joint supervision and We insist on excellence in all we do in 
citizens are properly educated. The control by the State and Voluntary the face of wide-spread wave of 
return of schools does not exonerate Agency". If we feel the need to mediocrity. This demands dedication 
the government from this employ additional staff, we can do so. to duty. Any staff of the schools who 
	. responsibility. This is why it is proper 	is, over the years, accustomed to 

tot a I k 0 f " S tat e - C h u r c h Some people talk of conflict between . truancy, will certainly frown at the 
Collaboration" in education. The the Church and the State in the efforts ofthe Catholic Church. 
return of schools surely involves management of schools. What do Frankly speaking, we would not be 
	several areas of management. Let me you say to that? 	talking. about conflict between the \ 
cite some statements from the You know that the business of State and the Church, it is rather 
document with which the State education is not a simply matter. It proper to talk about the difficulty 
returned schools to the Missions: needs very serious and concerned faced by some members of the staff to 
. In general: "The Jull takeover of the attention, especially in our country adjust to the new situation of 
schools by the voluntary agencies where we are facing terrible degree of discipline in the schools. 
All seem to agree that there is very 
	involves the control, management decadence in the education sector. 	. 

urgent need to improve the quality of 
and proprietorship ofschools by a Both the State and the Catholic 

teaching and learning in such a way 
voluntary agency" (Third Schedule Church agree on the Urgent need to that the child acquires knowledge, 

par 4, 1) . put things right in the education skills and develops a sound character. 
The Policy Directives state: "It is the sector. The only reason for conflict We must all therefore be ready to pay 
	statutory responsibility of the State to could be that the Church would never the price of quality education. 	I 
	set up guidelines for the management compromise efforts to achieve Ithank you for the attention. 	II 
oj all schools in the State through the excellence in the execution of her 
	StateMinistryoJEducation " 	duties; the education sector will not 	I
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	171~	_J 
country. This is the chance of parents 
to make positive impact on the 
education of their children by 
insisting on excellent standards. of 
teaching and learning in the schools. 
To achieve this, the Church has set up 
a formidable Education Commission 
with very well equipped and properly 
staffed Education Secretariat, to 
ensure the proper functioning of the . 
schools. Well structured, regular 
supervision and inspection have 
helped to improve the standard of 
teaching and learning in the schools. 

A further step in the improvement of 
education is that the Church is 
reopening the boarding facilities in all 
her school. Your school is a good 
example of this necessary step in 
revitalizing the education sector. We 
want om- students to be full-time 
students and not part-time attendant 
of schools. This is the only effective' 
means of achieving moral and 
academic excellence. 

You will 'lee other steps we are taking 
as we continue the work of 
transformation of the education 
sector. 

i
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