The Catholic Church has called on the federal government to take immediate and decisive action to address the country’s education crisis, which has kept millions of children out of school.
Marking the International Day of Education, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, emphasized that education remained an inalienable right and urged the government to collaborate with religious bodies to establish schools and scholarships, particularly in rural communities.
Such partnerships, the Church said, would ensure holistic education which would help contribute to building a stronger, more equitable Nigeria.
In a statement co-signed by Rev. Fr. Peter Babangida, Director of Church & Society; Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, Director of Social Communications; and Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, Secretary General, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria reaffirmed the importance of education as a tool for societal transformation.
The statement also highlighted the critical role of parents in instilling values, such as honesty, compassion, responsibility, and self-discipline in their children, shaping them into future leaders with integrity and commitment to justice.
This year’s International Day of Education, with the theme, “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,” was also addressed.
The Church warned against allowing artificial intelligence to overshadow human agency and stressed the importance of ethical principles to ensure technology served the common good.
While acknowledging the benefits of AI in education and other sectors, the Church insisted that human qualities, such as compassion and moral direction, must remain at the forefront of societal advancement.
The Church said: “As we mark the International Day of Education, we reaffirm the fundamental right to education for every child, without exception.
“In Nigeria, where millions of children remain out of school, we face a crisis that demands urgent collective action.
“We cannot be tired of reminding ourselves that education is an inalienable right that must be accessible to every child.
“To achieve this, the government can foster partnerships with religious bodies, leveraging their networks and resources to establish schools and scholarships, particularly in rural communities.
“By doing so, we can ensure that holistic education becomes the foundation for building a stronger, more prosperous, and more equitable Nigeria.
“The theme of this year’s International Day of Education, ‘AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,’ highlights a pressing challenge that transcends education and impacts all aspects of life.
“As we harness the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance various sectors of society, we must ensure that it augments, rather than replaces, human agency.
“Technology, including AI, must always complement and support human endeavours, rather than overshadow them.
“Parents bear primary responsibility for educating their children. Through their words and examples, parents must instil essential values that shape their children’s conscience and empower them to become agents of positive change in a world that is in dire need of integrity, justice, and compassion.
“The key values that must be instilled in our children include honesty, respect for human dignity, compassion, contentment, responsibility, self-discipline, and reverence for God.
“By nurturing these values in our children at their tender age, we are shaping the leaders of tomorrow, who will serve the common good with integrity, responsibility, and a deep commitment to justice and compassion.
“Ultimately, the formation of our children lays the foundation for a society where leaders serve with honesty, empathy, and a steadfast dedication to the well-being of all.”
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