Bishop Stephen Manoti of the National Independent Church of Africa (NICA) has asked the government to stop frustrating religious groups' efforts in the education sector, and instead complement church initiatives in promoting quality education.
According to the bishop, the government has continued to ignore the contribution various churches and individuals have put in improving education by engaging in unfair admission of form one students to national schools.
Speaking on Wednesday yesterday evening at Green Cottage secondary in Nyamira, the bishop said the method used by the education ministry to select students to join secondary schools is demoralising to many christian based and private schools.
“Christian missionaries were the first groups to establish schools in the country and most of best performing secondary schools are under sponsorship of various churches. So the government should acknowledge church efforts in education,” noted the bishop.
He said every child should be given equal opportunity when admissions are done, adding that private and mission schools have put more resources and best strategies in training young children, which cannot be ignored.
“We are aware of the challenges being experienced in public primary schools but, it’s the responsibility of the government to ensure all public schools have enough facilities and teachers to produce quality education like their private counterparts,” explained Manoti.
Meanwhile the bishop called upon school administrations to inculcate religious values and virtues in their teaching so as to bring up young people who will be responsible members of the society.
Bishop Stephen Manoti of the National Independent Church of Africa (NICA) in the past event. He has asked the government to stop frustrating religious groups' efforts in the education sector. File