Church bodies root for religious education

• Church bodies want religious education made examinable in schools.
• Calls for the abolition of extra tuition for burdening students.
• Disagreement on the re-introduction of corporal punishment.

Two major church bodies want religious education made compulsory and examinable in schools to curb the rising cases of strikes.

The National Council of Churches of Kenya and the Kenya Episcopal Conference said separately that the education system and curriculum needed to be reviewed to inculcate national values and discipline in students while they are still young.

“The solution to the challenges we have experienced in our educational institutions is in a restoration of a wholesome education and the development of a national value system,” NCCK said in a statement by secretary general Peter Karanja in Limuru, on Thursday.

Earlier, the Catholic Church, through Education commission chairman Maurice Crowley, attributed the widespread unrest to lack of religious influence and value formation.

The church called for teaching of Christian Religious Education in all its schools and deployment of chaplains to the institutions.

The two church bodies further called for the abolition of extra tuition for allegedly burdening students.

“There is more to education than passing an examination,” the Rev Karanja said, adding that students need enough time for other activities like playing, resting and worship.

They however disagreed on calls for the re-introduction of corporal punishment.

While NCCK called for the lifting of the ban on corporal punishment, the Catholic Church said this would be a knee-jerk reaction.

Social order

Corporal punishment in schools was abolished in 2001 by an Act of Parliament.

The bodies said that the riots were a sign of breakdown of social order and value.

NCCK further said that parents had become irresponsible, arguing that the role of laying the foundation for discipline and values lies with the parents.

The Catholic church demanded immediate harmonisation and implementation of previous task forces recommendations to end the chaos.

“There’s no need for another task force or Commission,” Bishop Crowley of Kitale Diocese told a press conference at Waumini House in Nairobi.