Abstract
Education is one of the major social pillars that the National Strategic Plan captures in Kenya Vision 2030. Besides the government which is a main provider of education in the country, there are other partners such as the Roman Catholic Church that pursue the goal of providing holistic education. It is worth appreciating that, in Kenya, it is in common domain that the RCC has contributed a lot towards socio-political, economic and education growth. Nonetheless, efficiency and conflict of interest regarding management of some public sponsored schools together with mutual hostility with civil authorities more so in urban ones deserves critical attention. This provides a springboard for the study to investigate pertinent problematic factors that hinder the actualization of the ideals of Church sponsored urban schools in schooling and education focusing on St. Peter Claver’s Catholic Primary School in Nairobi as a model. The study applies qualitative research while using a case study design to collect data from both secondary and primary sources. Primary data is acquired through questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focused group discussions and observation. To delve further into the problem, the study is guided by three inter-dependent theories. They are: Social Learning Theory, Mediation Theory and Redaction Criticism Theory. The findings of the work include - but are not limited to - conflict between ecclesial sponsors and civil authorities, diverging faith affiliation demands, infrastructural problems together with environmental challenges. It is against these socio-economic milieus that the study articulates on the critical roles of the government and the Church as a sponsor to avert recurrent conflict of interest and other problems that urban Christian Church sponsored schools face. In view of these issues a study on the problems facing sponsored primary schools is pivotal since the education received in these schools is the foundational level that determines most the present and future character of the pupils and school management, and guarantees upward mobility in schooling, education, and gainful employment.
Highlights
Among the mainstream Christian churches, the RCC is one of the oldest in Africa which committed herself to preaching a holistic Gospel through education and other socio-religio-economic and cultural means
The sponsor does not discriminate on any students or teachers from any other denomination, the problem remains that all must comply with the standards and tradition of the school sponsor
Pupils who hail from other denominations such as Pentecostal, Anglican Church of Kenya, Seventh Day Adventist Church and Akorino and other Africa Instituted Churches may not be conversant with the RCC liturgy they are not compelled to attend Mass but they are disenfranchised on religious practice
Summary
Among the mainstream Christian churches, the RCC is one of the oldest in Africa which committed herself to preaching a holistic Gospel through education and other socio-religio-economic and cultural means. The Catholic Church she has immensely contributed towards education development as a sponsor starting from the foundational level of primary school to university level across geographical spread. An observer will be quick to notice disturbing conflict between ecclesial sponsors and civil authority together with intra-rivalries, which could be just the tip of the iceberg (KCCB, 2003) This hinders the realization of schooling and education thereby creating a need to be researched upon at the level of erudition. Despite all the milestones on educational establishment, progress and management of schools, input by the sponsoring Church and the government as partners, the system is not devoid of existential management conflicts and infrastructural issues that have had far reaching implications on the character formation of the pupils at the foundation of their social and academic life (Cheruiyot, 2001). These call for deserving attention in the course of the study the paper opted for
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