Education
THE Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has condemned what he described as “despotic and overreaching” directives by the Imo Commissioner for Education.
Ugorji made his position known in a statement issued on Sept. 4, in which he called for dialogue among education stakeholders in the state.
The archbishop said a healthy education system should be based on collaboration, open dialogue, academic freedom and mutual respect among administrators, teachers, parents and students.
He alleged that recent directives by the Ministry of Education had undermined those principles through what he described as intimidation, silencing of dissenting voices and the dismantling of democratic procedures.
Ugorji expressed particular concern over policies affecting mission and private schools in the state.
According to him, Christian schools have been compelled to observe Islamic holidays, while directives have also been issued on school resumption and closure dates.
He further alleged that educators who raised professional concerns had faced threats of punitive measures.
The archbishop also criticised what he described as attempts to compel schools to select textbooks exclusively from government-approved lists and unilaterally fix their prices.
“These actions do not serve the best interest of our children; rather, they seek to foster an environment of fear, coercion as well as intellectual subjugation and stagnation,” he said.
Ugorji said education should promote critical thinking and diversity of thought rather than enforce ideological conformity.
He urged the Commissioner for Education to immediately halt the directives and engage educational stakeholders in transparent and meaningful dialogue.
The archbishop also appealed to Gov. Hope Uzodimma to call the commissioner to order and prevent actions that could create the impression of a conflict between the state government and the Church.
He further called on elected representatives in the state to investigate the alleged abuses of power and restore accountability to the Ministry of Education.
Ugorji said the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri stood with educators and families in resisting what he described as undemocratic overreach.
M.P
Tags: dialogue Imo education