Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
21 October 2009
The Catholic Church in Kenya is protesting a decision by the government to allow Muslim students to wear their religious clothing in its sponsored and private schools 'even without consulting them.'
In a statement signed by Bishop Philip Anyolo, the acting chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, the church says that while their schools countrywide are open to all children regardless of their social status or religious affiliation, the government's directive should be withdrawn awaiting further dialogue and consultation.
He said that last July the conference had written to the government concerning the matter but they had been ignored by government which went ahead and issued the now controversial directive.
"The need for consultation and dialogue arises from the fact the Catholic Church has her own religious traditions, discipline and philosophy of education that is cherished and held in all Catholic schools," the July letter signed by Bishop Maurice Crawley, chairman of the KEC commission for education read in part.
"The Catholic Church has to be involved in any decision that might affect her directly or indirectly," the bishop said, "In addition, the directive was issued without taking into consideration the views and concerns of the Catholic Church and other Christian churches."
The bishop further clarified that any concern as to why the Catholic Church has not implemented the circular from the permanent Secretary - Ministry of Education - in her public sponsored and private schools should only be addressed to the chairman of Kenya Episcopal Conference and not the heads of the respective institutions.
"Therefore, the recognition of any religious emblem is and should be subject to consultation with sponsors of the respective schools. Otherwise, it means that the sponsor's role is no longer recognized by the ministry of Education and this is against the 1968 Education ACT (Revised 1980) which has not been repealed," the conference said.
In this matter of the religious dressing, therefore, the Catholic Church is requesting that her rights and concerns be respected and the issue be subjected to consultation and dialogue by all stakeholders in education with the aim of reaching an amicable agreement.
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