EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S REPORT    Preamble:   According to Vatican II Council Gravissimum Educations (Declaration on Christian Education No. 1 “All men of whatever race, condition or age, in virtue of their dignity as human persons have inaliable right to education. This education should be suitable to the particular destiny of the individuals adapted to their ability, sex and national cultural tradition and should be conducive to promote true unity and peace in the world”   The diocesan education office in collaboration with parishes and other stakeholders is duty bound to ensure that institutions conform to these basic requirements of the universal church. As a church we need to have unwavering commitment to ensure that Christ is radiated through our institution coupled with responding to emerging needs in these institutions.   The number of our catholic institutions is growing rapidly and thus it equally calls for a rapid response initiative to address the issues emanating from the same. Hitherto, we have 240 catholic sponsored primary schools, 73 catholic sponsored secondary schools, 17 youth polytechnics, 11 private primary schools and one minor seminary. Plans are underway to establish John Paul 11 professional training institute in Mwingi town. This institute at the pilot phase will be able to   offer training in management advanced secretarial, accounts, special education and lab technology. It will later be upgraded at the second phase. We equally need to think about private secondary schools which is an area as a diocese we have not ventured into.   1.1       The administrative structure   The diocesan advisory board   This is the main body which advises the Bishop on educational matters. A new board was inaugurated last year which comprises of the following members:   1.         Rt. Rev. Anthony Muheria        -           Chairman 2.         Fr. Julius Muthamba                 -           Secretary 3.         Fr. George Marete                    -          Education Assistant Far North 4.         Fr. Gabriel Manzi                     -           Education Assistant Mwingi Region 5.         Fr. Benson Katua                     -           Education Assistant Mutomo Region 6.         Sr. Clare Tobin                         -           Ursuline Sisters - Member 7.         Mrs. Maria Mulwa                   -           Principal Muthale Girls - Member 8.         Mr. John Musili Kanani            -           Retired TSC Commissioner - member 9.         Mr. Fred Mutinda                     -          Asst. Ed.Officer Kitui West District - Member 10.       Mr. Benard Kimanzi                -           Teacher St. Lwanga School- Member 11.       Mr. Luka Nzangi                      -           Lecturer Kenyatta University - Member 12.       Mrs. Catherine Muthonde        -           Education Consultant - Member 13.       Fr. Dominic Kamwilwa            -            Priest Kavisuni - Member 14.       Mr. Justus Kathenge                -           City Planner/Lawyer – Member 15.       Mr. Patrick Mang’atu               -           TSC Nairobi – Member 16.       Mr. Christopher Nzili               -           High Court Advocate – Member       Education department staff   1.         Fr. Julius Muthamba                -           Executive Education Secretary 2.         Br. Ken Wanzala                     -           R.E. Advisor Mwingi Region 3.         Sr. Elizabeth Isingi                   -           R.E. Advisor Kyuso Region 4.         Mrs. Josephine Paul                 -           Childrens Sponsorship Project Officer 5.         Diana Mawia Makasa              -           Administrative Secretary   The diocese is in the process of sourcing Assistant Education secretary who is going to take care of primary schools   1.2       OUR MAIN AREAS OF CONCERN   i.                    Pastoral Work/Catholic Identity of our Schools   If our schools have to continue playing their traditional roles of being centers of evangelization and beacons of light, we ought to rethink our pastoral approach towards them so that the church may make the required impact.   For this to be realized we must ensure that the catholic identity of our schools is retained at all cost. The parishes have to create a very close relationship and interest in the schools within their areas of jurisdiction. We need to encourage students from our parishes to choose catholic schools to increase the catholic population   There is a great need to develop a systematic pastoral care programme for all our institutions. This should include Masses, retreats and recollection for teachers and students, spiritual talks etc. to enhance our efficiency, we need to involve sisters and brothers where possible in schools pastoral care initiatives. We need to ensure that catholic spirit reigns in these schools through prayers, symbols etc. may I remind you that we have new assembly prayer book. This is the official Assembly book for all our institution. All secondary school students in our schools ought to have this book as per bishop advise by the end of the second term 2010. The same applies to all primary school pupils in our private schools   If all these are to be actualized, the priests must play a very pivotal roles. These include:   Ø  The priest must provide administrative presence in the institutions Ø  They should also involve other people in schools issues like parish council and other professional lay leaders Ø  Thy should involve religious congregation in the schools apostolate and portray as strong unity of purpose   ii.         Board of Governors and School Committees   These two bodies remain absolutely important for the smooth running of schools. We have three slots for sponsor in primary schools and four slots for the sponsor in secondary schools boards. It’s important to note that in the three slots of the sponsor in primary schools these people need not to be parents in that school. Among the four members of the secondary school the priest should be among them. We wish to remind you once again that the Fr. Incharge should be in the school executive and also be a bank signatory in the schools we sponsor.   According to the ministry of education circular issued on 16th June 2004 on policy guidelines for appointment and operation of board of governors for secondary schools it’s clearly stated that the sponsor will recommend one of his four appointees to be the chairman of the board. A copy of these circular can be obtained from our office. Apart from the slots given by the education act, we should be at a position to lobby and get more Catholics in our boards. This means we can’t afford to miss both board’s nomination and inauguration.   1.3       Parish Education Boards/Catholic Teachers Association   For efficiency in our schools apostolate, we need to have a functional parish education boards. This is a body which is supposed to advise the parish priest and his parish council on educational issues. We expect all the parishes to have these boards and those who have not composed them should do it before the end of this year to facilitate smooth working.   Catholic teachers association is another body which is very important if we have to minister to our teachers and ensure they also become useful to the church. The CTA will also give an avenue for the formation of our catholic teachers in faith. This will enable them to take active roles not only in schools but also in the church   1.4       Headship/General Staffing in Schools   For our schools to retain our catholic identity, we need to have professional head teachers who are well grounded in faith. We equally need to realize that there are some seasoned protestant head teachers who have been doing good work in our schools. But as much as we can, we need to have majority of our principal be committed Catholics. We are working towards this and this requires concerted efforts. We need to be very keen on the new schools. Once the registration forms of the new secondary schools have been filled kindly liaise with our office so that we may consult over the possible head teacher. Some of us are waiting until when the certificates are out and by this time other interested groups will have already given teachers. Let us be concerned both with staffing in small schools as well as established schools. A headship in primary schools is still a problem since most of our schools are headed by people who are not Catholics. We need first and foremost to create interest in these schools then make the necessary consultations so that we can get reliable heads in these schools.   The distribution of teachers in different schools has really become a prennial challenge. There are few catholic teachers in our schools and most of them have very little commitment in the church. We need to encourage these teachers right from the parishes so that they may commit themselves on faith matters.   1.5              Capacity Building Programmes   Capacity building for all stakeholders in education and evangelization programmes remains vital if we have to make the required impact. In the area of primary school teachers we have been having CISRET and ABY programmes. Last year we trained   68 teachers in ABY programme. CISRET programme which is conducted in Tabor Hill has been going on. We wish to remind you that the fee of this training is cost shared between the parish, the teacher and the diocesan education office. The parish is supposed to pay 5,000.00, the teachers’ pays 6,000.00 plus fare and the diocesan education office pay 5,000.00. We beseech parishes which have not taken any teacher for this course to take it seriously.   It is instrumental in promoting teachers capacity to handle faith and guidance and counseling issues in the schools. Last year we took 2 teachers from Boma and Kyuso parishes.  This year 2010 we have trained on teacher in CISRET during the first term from Boma parish and for the second term we are sending five teachers for the same course from Kimangao(1), Mutune(1), Mulutu(2) and Muthale parish (1).   We have CAPAP and CRE refresher course for secondary school teachers. Through the catholic principals association we are training the principals, deputies, HODs, YCS and CU patrons and BOG representatives in different areas to enhance their capacity in their work.   1.6       Private institutions   This refers to all institution which have been established in the name of the diocese. They include primary schools, secondary schools, polytechnics, computer training institutes and secretarial colleges. These institutions must play their proper roles as formation cum centers of evangelization.   We wish to emphatically state that these institutions should be established in consultation with Bishops office and diocesan education office. As from last year we requested that quarterly report about the institutions be send to the education office. These reports should reflect enrolment, budget, financial status, staff capacity etc. its unfortunate that most of us are not sending these reports. We are in a era of openness transparency and accountability and there should be nothing to hide. We wish to remind you once again that these institutions have independent bank accounts for the smooth running.   It has been noted that many of our parish based polytechnics are offering courses which are not very relevant to today’s industrial needs. The diocesan education advisory board is studying on how these polytechnics can be made relevant and emphasize on different approach to the syllabus. Once taken seriously, these polytechnics can be an alternative route to the third level. Finally we have to ensure proper registration of all our institutions with the government.    1.7       KCSE/KCPE performance        Last years KCPE performance was not well done especially in the public schools within the diocese. Most of our schools did not manage a mean score of 250 marks. From the general analysis schools in Mwingi district performed better compared to schools in other districts. It’s again upon us to challenge the teachers and school committees so that we can realize improved results in our public schools. For our private schools they tried although this is not the best performance we expect from them. They managed the following measures:-   1.         St. Gabriel’s Boarding Primary schools                             -  353.5 2.         St. Francis Kamuw’ongo boarding primary school            -   349 3.         St. Michaels Boarding primary schools                              - 333 4.         St. Patrick’s mixed day and boarding primary                    - 326 5.         Bishop Dunne Kabati                                                       - 291             For the KCSE results most of our secondary schools posted a positive deviation in their results. The best four schools were:   1.         Muthale Girls                           -           9.1  M/score, No. 44 in Kenya 2.         St. Charles Lwanga                  -           8.87  M/score, No. 54 in Kenya 3.         St. Angelas Girls                      -           8.2 M/score, No. 127 in Kenya 4.         St. Matthias M. Matinyani        -           7.98 M/score, No. 144 in Kenya   We have appended a copy of the results for all our schools overleaf. Look at them and discuss with other stakeholders in your schools. We have at Diocesan Education Advisory Board level looked at the impact of Catholic education in term of boosting performance. It was agreed that from this year the education day will be marked in second term. It was also agreed that from next year apart from the parish education day we will be having diocesan education day for secondary schools where all schools will meet in one venue for the event.   1.8       School fees sponsorship programme   Sponsorship programme is going on well. We are moving towards better organization after putting in place children sponsorship project officer. The approach towards identifying the children to be sponsored is changing following the requirements of the donor. The project officer will liaise with the parish, the school where the student is and physically go to home of the student.  Our main sponsor in this programme is Chello foundation, which is sponsoring 135 students. We also have friends of Kitui, whereby they have partnered with two parishes’  i.e. Zombe – Darkey partnership, Kyuso –Rathgar partnership. In total the friends of Kitui are sponsoring 48 students.   I wish to conclude by sincerely thanking our Bishop, the diocesan advisory board and all the priests in the diocese and our Christians for their unflinching support to our department.  May     God bless you all.