Provide Holistic Education, Orienting Learners “to be human”: Malawian Catholic Bishop

Dedza, 19 November, 2022 / 4:35 PM

The Catholic Bishop of Dedza Diocese in Malawi is calling on all institutions of learning to provide holistic education, the kind that orients learners in human and Christian formation, fostering the spirit of responsibility. 

Speaking at the National Launch of Preparations for Missionary Day for Children, Bishop Adrian Chifukwa said that the Church is doing her part for her institutions, and that other institutions should do the same.

“I urge all institutions like schools to start providing holistic education which teaches children to be human by giving them the ability to be responsible with themselves and others,” Bishop Chifukwa has been quoted as saying in a November 13 report.

He said that the society concentrates a lot on academic formation “and gives little attention to the human and Christian formation of our children.”

The Malawian Bishop also expressed concern about absent parenting, saying, “It is evident nowadays that many parents do not have the time to teach their children how to be human not only in words but also through how they live.”

He added, “Many parents do not pay attention to their children because they are too busy with work, businesses and other things.”

With the lack of or inadequate attention given to children by some parents, Bishop Chifukwa said, “the human formation part is lacking in families, schools and other institutions.” 

“This is dangerous especially in this modern world where human characters like love towards one another are missing,” the Local Ordinary of Dedza Diocese further said.

The Catholic Church leader added, “This is why the Church encourages children to pray always so that they connect with God and understand that God wants in them a character that serves others.”

Expected to take place on Epiphany Sunday, 8 January 2023, Missionary Day for Children will be guided by the theme, “Serving fellow Children together with the Church”.

The launch of the preparations for Missionary Day for Children marked the beginning of the two-month journey through which the Church in Malawi will be teaching children, animators, parents and all people the missionary obligations of children in the Church and society, the November 13 report indicates. 

The children will be expected to pray for each other, contribute money to help others, and participate in charity work.

In the report, the National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Malawi said the activities that the children will be engaged in will help them “to understand that they have a role to play in changing the World into a better place through prayer, giving and service.”

“This helps them to share and offer whatever they have joyfully and generously,” Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa said.

The Malawian Catholic Priest gave the example of Church institutions, saying, “Most Catholic schools, hospitals and support in orphanages in the country come from children. This is what we need today in our societies.”