Francis 'Jide MAKINWA

 Recently, one hundred and ten delegates of Catholic teachers and lecturers, education officers, retired teachers and lecturers across the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo (parishes and institutions) met with the Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola.

Also present at the meeting were members of the Osogbo Catholic Diocesan School Board. The venue was at the Conference hall, Bishop House, Oke Ayepe, Osogbo. The purpose of the meeting was for the Bishop to interact with all Catholic teachers at various institutions of learning for growth, to charge the teachers on the care of the destiny (students) entrusted to them and the mission of evangelization.

At the occasion, Rev. Fr Felix Olaniyan, the Diocesan Education Secretary, delivered a paper titled; "The Vision and Mission of the Catholic Teachers Association, Diocese of Osogbo (CATADOS)." In his speech, Fr Olaniyan highlighted the primary role of the Church, which is to evangelize; that is, to spread the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth for the glory of God the Father, and to enable all men and women to share in His saving redemption. He emphasized that the Church recognizes the central place of education in carrying out her mission in the world.

“Education touches the lives of the present and future generations as a means of information and formation. It is a veritable tool for evangelization, of empowerment, of activating the learners' potentials, of divinizing the growth and development of the learners, and ultimately directing them to the final goal of existence. Hence, the particular attention she gives to education and the formation of teachers,” the priest declared.

Fr. Olaniyan, while referring to various Church’s documents, reaffirmed that schools depend almost entirely on teachers to accomplish their goals and programmes. While good regulations are important, good schools are principally fruits of good teachers, excellently trained in their respective subjects which they are to teach, and possessing the intellectual and moral qualities which their important office requires. Teachers must possess an ever-learning spirit and have a pure love for their students and each other. They must bear testimony by their lives and cooperate with other stakeholders, most especially, the parents, he said.

The priest stated that the vision of CATADOS, among other things, includes protecting the interests of Catholic teachers. Also, with proper training of the teachers, they will become a positive influence on other teachers, the schools and the wider society through their exemplary life, service etc. It would enable Catholic teachers to speak with one voice on education and some other issues which concern the Catholic Church. It would also help to coordinate and cater for Catholic students in non-Catholic schools. 

The establishment of CATADOS would enable the Catholic faithful to be vanguards of the Catholic ethos in Catholic schools. It would also offer opportunities for the Diocese and retired teachers who might wish to work in Catholic schools either as volunteers or as contract staff.

Furthermore, Fr. Olaniyan said CATADOS would enable the Bishop to know and interact with Catholic teachers. It would allow him to identify those to whom he might give specific assignments in their Parishes and the Diocese. It would also assist the Bishop in identifying those he might recommend for appointments at whatever level when the opportunity comes.

At the end, Fr. Olaniyan said that for effectiveness, CATADOS must be established at the Parish, Zonal and Diocesan levels. Meetings, seminars and workshops would be organized for members to achieve the desired goals. He appreciated Bishop Oyejola for his passion and attention to education and, more importantly, the initiative to establish CATADOS in the Diocese.

The second speaker, Prof. Jide Ige, supported Fr. Olaniyan with his own practical experience. He encouraged teachers to be patient with their students and interact with them especially when they are not doing well in their studies. The teaching profession is an interesting and joyful career, sowing knowledge into people's lives, he said.

Bishop Oyejola, in his comment, appreciated Fr. Felix Olaniyan and Prof. Jide Ige for their interventions and all the attendees for their presence. He said that Catholic teachers are on a mission as disciples of Christ. Teachers are missionaries and should evangelize by teaching, sanctifying and governing. He lamented that parents are failing in their roles in the families. He therefore charged all Catholic teachers that their mission starts from the families to the larger entity called the nation. 

The Prelate stressed that the mission schools taken over by the government should be returned to their original owners for better administration and results.

He later instructed that CATADOS should have four zones, namely, Osogbo and Ede, Ilesa and Ibokun, Ife and Modakeke, and Otan and Inisa zones. Chaplains were appointed for each zone, while four teachers from each zone were requested to volunteer as Coordinators. Fr. Peter Akinsanya was appointed Diocesan chaplain, who is to work in collaboration with the Diocesan Education Secretary. The meeting was concluded with the official inauguration of CATADOS by the Bishop.