Africa-Press – Namibia. OVER THE PAST few centuries, public education has rested largely in the hands of the church. For long periods, it not only informed but also delivered on curriculum content. However, the gradual take-over of this noble endeavour by the secular state coincided with (if not resulted in) the church taking a back seat.
Today education faces a crisis of epidemic proportions globally. This holds particularly true for post-colonial sub-Saharan Africa. Namibia is no exception. On the sub-continent, our children count among the poor performers in international benchmark literacy and numeracy tests. Moreover, at some local schools, pupils are even outperforming their very teachers in these tests (1).
Whenever an education system fails, it invariably affects all spheres of society adversely. High dropout rates, inter alia, result in unemployment and crime. On the other hand, not all successful matriculants automatically qualify for tertiary studies.To complicate matters, there is growing concern about these school leavers’ level of employability.
The church and, more specifically, our local parishes (across all denominations) will not escape the scourge of the current education crisis unscathed. The ever-increasing number of children who cannot read fluently, let alone with comprehension, is fast becoming a national disaster. It is a scenario that has far-reaching consequences for the church and her mission in the world.
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT For starters, a child who cannot read, can’t read the Bible either – the only book where God reveals himself to Adam’s people. How can the church be the “light of the world” when her own children are groping in darkness?
What does God expect from us? The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) dictates, among others, that entire nations be discipled and taught. The Namibian church therefore has a responsibility towards the Namibian nation. Likewise, local parishes are responsible for the communities in which they are situated.
In the final analysis, the church must prepare children (in the same fashion that Mordecai prepared Esther) “for such a time as this” and, by doing so, make our world a better place. To what extent are we ready for this? Can we rise to the occasion?
Eradicating analphabetism (the inability to read and write), both within and without, is but one of a few thorny issues the Namibian church needs to negotiate – sooner rather than later.
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