It is very disheartening; we were chased out, now you want us to help – President of Catholic Bishop

In an Official Facebook Post shared by Joy News on 9 October 2026, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference expressed deep frustration with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu’s approach to tackling indiscipline in schools. His headline captured the emotion behind his remarks: “It is very disheartening; we were chased out, now you want us to help.”

The Bishops’ President lamented what he described as the government’s inconsistency in dealing with the Church’s role in education. He recalled that religious institutions, particularly the Catholic Church, were once sidelined from the management of public schools under policies that sought to secularize education. Now, he argued, the same government is calling on the Church to help restore discipline among students—a move he found both ironic and disheartening.

He noted that the Catholic Church has a long history of instilling moral values and discipline in Ghana’s education system. However, he said that when the state took over the administration of schools, many of those values were eroded. “We were chased out, now you want us to help you fix indiscipline in our schools,” he remarked, emphasizing that the Church cannot simply be called upon when things fall apart.

Observers note that his comments reflect growing concern among faith‑based organizations about the moral decline in schools and the challenges facing teachers and administrators. The ongoing teachers’ strike has already disrupted learning, and the issue of indiscipline adds another layer of complexity to the education crisis. The Bishops’ President’s remarks suggest that restoring discipline requires not just policy changes but also a renewed partnership between the state and religious institutions.

At its core, his statement was both a rebuke and a call for reflection. By describing the situation as “disheartening,” he sought to remind policymakers that moral education and discipline cannot be separated from the broader mission of teaching. His words resonated with educators and parents who believe that the exclusion of religious influence has contributed to the erosion of respect and responsibility among students.

The commentary has sparked debate online. Supporters of the Bishops’ position argue that the Church should be reinstated as a moral partner in education, while critics caution that Ghana’s schools must remain inclusive and secular to respect diverse beliefs. Regardless of perspective, the post highlights the tension between tradition and modernity in shaping the nation’s educational values.

Source: Joy News, Official Facebook Post, 9 October, 2026