Ministry of Education Asked to Keep Off Catholic Schools

Ministry of Education Asked to Keep Off Catholic Schools. The Ministry of Education has been embroiled by the Catholic Church of Kenya over what they term as attack on schools they sponsor.

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops ( KCCB) led by Archbishop Maurice Makumba Muhatia has come out strongly opposing the Basic Education Bill of 2024 where they term the bill discriminatory and undermines their roles in schools they sponsor.

Muhatia argued that the bill undermine and contravenes the agreement made between the church and the state concerning management of church founded schools.

Muhatia says that the Bill will kill the legacy the church has established in schools over time in promoting education through moral and ethical formation.

The archbishop reiterated that these schools were established by missionaries who persevered in nurturing them over a long period of time. They have opposed what they have termed as a Scheme to diminish the role of the church in the management of schools founded under the Catholic leadership.

The Catholic clerics are also opposing what they are terming as proposed university amendment Bill of 2024 which allow the minister of education to unilaterally dissolve, merge, convert and amalgamate private universities without involving the owners.

The clerics have expressed their displeasure over what the ministry of education is about to do without involving relevant stakeholders on matters affecting the church sponsored universities.

The Catholic Church of Kenya has also further faulted the government over the money owed to mission hospitals by National Health Insurance Fund ( NHIF) amounting to over Ksh. 1.2 billion.

Archbishop Anthony Muheria has said that these debts have crippled these Hospitals hindering provision of essential services. He mentioned that the church is on high alert on upholding the human dignity in terms of healthcare services provided to the public hence asked the government to move with speed in addressing the debt accrued to mission hospitals.

Muheria further criticized the government over transitioning of the National Health Insurance Fund to Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) citing lack of proper structures in place to phase out the latter. He said there are no proper guidelines on how they are going to settle the debts owed by NHIF before the SHIF starts operation.

Ministry of Education Asked to Keep Off Catholic Schools

Therefore, the Bishops are seeking the government intervention to clear all the debts owed by NHIF before the transition is complete to ensure there is no interruptions of healthcare services in healthcare centres.

The Bishops have asked relevant authorities to have a dialogue a bid to end the doctors’ strike that has lasted for over month now. The Bishops have said the strike had affected patients in hospitals who need medical attention something that goes against human dignity.

In conclusion, the Catholic Church of Kenya is defending its role in the education sector, healthcare and socal wellbeing where it has emphasized need for collaboration with stakeholders in addressing pressing issues ailing the nation.