By Mary Kamande
Before independence, most of educational institutions were in the hands of religious institutions.
After independence, most of the schools under churches were taken over by the Government, with the religious bodies playing the role of sponsors.
In the new arrangement, the Government would employ teachers and other staff for schools as the churches provided pastoral services to the school community. Often, the community, Government and parents would help put up infrastructure.
However, even as the role of the religious groups is laid out in the Education Act, some players in the sector feel the Church often overstep its mandate and interfere with school management.
Kenya National Union of Teachers Thika branch chairman J B Maina feels the Church often does not restrict itself to offering pastoral help to school communities. He says some interfere with the recruitment of staff and even brand schools with their names, yet they do not contribute in putting up infrastructure.
Religious instruction
However, the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a Education Secretary, Father Paul Muriuki, says the Church’s involvement in running of schools is vital. He says the organisations are involved so as to aid in the holistic formation of character of learners.
He says religious groups are involved in the kind of religious instruction given at the institutions. He adds that sponsors must be given priority to recommend persons to become principals or deputy principals in the schools they sponsor.
“According to the Education Act, the Church has a say in the appointment of managers – the principal and deputy principal,” he says, adding that the chairman of the Board of Governors (soon to change to Board of Managers, if the Basic Education Bill, 2012 becomes law) is often a member of the sponsoring organisation.
He says churches play a negligible role in the putting up of infrastructure but do help if in a position to. He however adds that ownership of school land is under the trusteeship of the churches.
As for branding, he says the incorporation of their names in the schools’ corporate identity is an expression of the reality of the school’s heritage. “It entails the life of the school,” he asserts.
Whole person
The involvement of sponsors ensures there is accountability and integrity in the running of schools, he says.
And even as the Education Act goes through amendments, the priest insists there is need to move by traditions and accord the Church its rightful position in managing schools and the formation of a whole person.
