Stop
selling knowledge to children- Teachers told
Most Rev. Charles
Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra Archdiocese, has called on teachers
to device innovative ways to impart knowledge to students.
He decried instances
where “some teachers have resorted to selling
their wisdom and knowledge at high costs and, sometimes even collect double monies for work not done
or not properly done” at extra
classes, and urged teachers to rather help the students entrusted to their care
rise by finding time to impart knowledge them.
The Archbishop said
these in an address during the 15th Anniversary and fifth Speech and
Prize Giving Day of the Our Lady of Mercy Senior High School at Tema.
It was on the theme: Quality Education, The Role of the Church
and Government.
Archbishop
Palmer-Buckle who queried how teachers output could be assessed in cases where
students or pupil flops in examination, called a mechanism to heighten the
sense of moral responsibility in teachers and parents in the task of bringing
up their children and wards properly and seriously.
He highlighted the
essence of obedience and discipline in quality education delivery, and said the
ultimate aim of education was to enable the person become a useful citizen, one
ready to serve his or her society to the best of their ability.
He said the only way to
make this country a haven was to inculcate the indispensable virtue in the pupils
and students in our schools, urging teachers to discipline the students to help
them become self-discipline and self-control in society.
The Archbishop who centered his
address on obedience, growth in stature, wisdom and in favour with God as well
as growth in service to humanity, noted it was the duty of every teacher and
parent to make sure that children grow in the fear of the Lord, favour of their
fellow human beings and in the love for their neighbors.
He exhorted the
students, teaching and non-teaching staff, parents and guardians, and all
stake-holders in the enterprise of Catholic Education, to read and abide by
read the Gospel of St. Luke Chapter 2:41-52 and advised students to be
studious, make good use of the internet facility in their studies and have
enough rest.
He said Catholic Church
was in the education enterprise because Jesus Christ mandated her to do so,
adding that the delivery of quality education was to help form individuals
identify to respond to their God given vocations as well as make children grow
with a deep sense to serve humanity.
The Tema Metropolitan
Director of Education, Mr. Kwesi Hutchful noted the importance of the Church
state partnership in the provision of quality education in the country and urged
teachers in the various units seeking transfers to follow due process.
He said whether the
schools were established by the mission or state, there was a critical for
stakeholders to perform their roles to sustain the schools.
Mr. Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, said government
cannot provide quality education alone, but noted that they would continue to
collaborate with the mission provide it.
He advised parents and
teachers not to relent in instilling discipline in their children to become
good citizens in future.
In an address, Mr.
Clemence Yao Baba, the Headmaster of the School, said the school which started
with 15 students and 11 teachers, was established in 1999 by the Our Lady of
Mercy Parish at Tema Community One.
In 2001, the school
with motto FEDES-SACTITAS-SANCTITIA
(Faith, Holiness and Knowledge) was absorbed into the public system aims to be
the best rated school in Tema Metropolis by 2015.
He said with 52
teaching and 20 non-teaching staff, the school recorded improved academic
results and success in other disciplines, but added that lack of science
laboratory equipment, encroachment of the school land were some of the
challenges the school faced.
Mr. Baba appealed to
organisations and individuals to come to the School’s aid and to expand the
wash rooms, buy a car to assist movement of the school.
He thanked the
government for supporting the school over the years, governors and stakeholders
of the school as well as the Priests and his predecessors.
Benefactors of the
School, including Sir P.V. Obeng, Chairman of the National Development Planning
Commission were awarded with citation, alongside long serving staff and
students who excelled academically.
Earlier, Archbishop
Palmer-Buckle with some dignitaries inspected a guard of honour mounted by the
School’s Naval Cadet Corps.
Other programmes organised
as part of the 15th Anniversary included a float through some
streets of Tema, talk on Sanitation and Hygiene; Science and Maths Quiz
Competition and cleanup exercise.
*Archbishop Palmer-Buckle with some dignitaries inspecting the guard of
honour
(inset)
the dignitaries at the function.
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