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How to Maintain Catholic Identity in Schools with Increasing Secularization: Kenyan Bishop

Silas Isenjia

By Silas Isenjia

Nairobi, 24 August, 2024 / 9:22 pm (ACI Africa).

Secular influences have made maintaining a Catholic identity in Kenyan Catholic schools a challenging task, Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe, one of the three Auxiliary Bishops of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN), has said.

In his Tuesday, August 20 address during the official opening of the first edition of the Catholic Primary Schools Heads’ Association – Kenya [CaPSHA – K] Conference in Nairobi, Bishop Kamomoe emphasized the critical role of holistic education in ensuring that Catholic identity is safeguarded in Catholic schools.

“In an increasingly secular world, upholding Catholic identity in Catholic schools has become a challenge,” the Kenyan Bishop said at the start of the three-day event taking place at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).

Bishop Kamomoe said that holistic education and integral formation provide a framework to keep Catholic schools aligned with their foundational mission.

The conference that the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (KCCB) Commission for Education and Religious Education (CERE) is spearheading is organized under the theme, “Catholic Schools: Hubs of Foundational Learning and Integral Formation for Holistic Growth.”

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In his address during the August 20-22  first-ever conference of heads of Catholic primary schools in Kenya, Bishop Kamomoe urged Catholic educators to remain steadfast in their commitment to providing an education that is rooted in the Christian faith.

“The mission of Catholic schools extends beyond academic excellence,” the Bishop said and added, “We are called to form individuals who embody the values and teachings of the Catholic faith.”

He explained that the current educational landscape requires schools to focus not only on intellectual growth but also on the moral and spiritual development of students.

Bishop Kamomoe highlighted what he described as a growing emphasis on emotional intelligence in today’s world which he said often plays a more significant role in shaping individuals than intellectual capacity alone.

“We are not just talking about IQs anymore,” the Kenyan Catholic Bishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry on April 6  said, and added,  “Emotional intelligence can be more influential in a human person.”

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Bishop Kamomoe stressed the importance of grounding educational practices in Christian spirituality, urging educators to be clear about the kind of spirituality they promote. He said, “Always qualify the spirituality you are discussing. Ours is Christian spirituality.”

The Bishop described holistic education as an approach that seeks to develop all aspects of a person—intellectual, emotional, spiritual, physical, and social. He stressed, that education is not just about academic achievement.

The Bishop said education involves the cultivation of the entire person, adding that it is very unfortunate to have an education without character.

The Catholic Church leader linked the approach of character-oriented education to the Catholic understanding of education, which he said views each student as a unique individual created in the image and likeness of God.

Bishop Kamomoe cited the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Gravissimum Educationis, which he said underscores the Church’s duty to provide an education filled with the spirit of Christ.

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“This education is not just for Catholics but for all, promoting human perfection and the common good,” he said.

In his address, Bishop Kamomoe emphasized that while holistic education is not unique to Catholic schools, it takes on a distinctive character within these institutions.

“Catholic schools aim to form responsible citizens who are also faithful Christians, this form of education seeks to develop students' capacities to serve both God and humanity,” he said.

The Kenyan Bishop also reminded educators that Catholic education is about forming the whole person, saying “It’s not merely an educational strategy; it’s a commitment to the dignity and development of each human person.”

In his August 20 address, Bishop Kamomoe called on Catholic schools to stay true to their identity while adapting to contemporary needs. He stressed that this commitment ensures students are not only prepared to contribute positively to society but also remain faithful to their Catholic values.

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Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.