Catholic private schools meet in Kenya

The Catholic Private Educational Institutions Association (CAPEIA) Tuesday began a three-days conference at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. The theme of this year’s meeting is “The Catholic School – a place to encounter Jesus Christ, the Compassionate Teacher.”

Opening the conference, Bishop Philip Anyolo, Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) told participants that Kenyan Bishops were proud of the work by Catholic private schools in Kenya.

“The conspicuous Catholic identity, ethos and values in many of our schools continues to characterise these schools,” he said. He added, “The Bishops’ Conference is banking on you to mentor the youth into persons of integrity and responsible citizens in the midst of all societal, social, economic and political challenges.  You have the capacity and formation to do exactly this,” he emphasised.

At the same occasion, Bishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, Chairman of the Commission for Education and Religious Education noted that the theme resonated well with the universal celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

“Our Catholic identity is not an option in our schools.  It is our lifeline.  We embrace and allow it to pervade all aspects of our institutional life; in so doing, we successfully fulfill our God-given mission,” Bishop Muhatia told the conference.

Bishop Muhatia congratulated Catholic schools in Kenya for posting impressive examination results in the school year of 2015.

Some of the topics to be discussed at this years’ conference include Radicalization in schools; Child abuse and corporal punishment; Catholic Identity and faith formation in Catholic Private Schools and Legal issues affecting private Catholic schools.

(CISA, Nairobi)

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