Role of Religious Sponsors in Development of Holistic Secondary School Students in Nyeri County

Peterson Githinji Kagema

doi:10.18784/analisa.v6i02.1405

Abstract

Historically, religious sponsors have played a significant role in promoting holistic growth of students through emphasizing Christian based values in learning institutions. This have been showed by ever increasing seasonal social, moral, and ethical challenges facing students which include early pregnancies among female students, drugs and substance abuse, religious radicalization, burying, arson, among others. However, there has been a great concern from the public discourse on the laxity of the church as religious sponsors in schools from the frequent moral decay displayed by the students today. This article assesses the role of religious sponsors in development of holistic secondary school students in Nyeri County, Kenya. This study adopts a descriptive approach through collecting primary data from 68 CU/CA patrons, 99 students and 68 school administration. This article confirmed that various religious sponsors promote students' moral, social and spiritual development to students through organizing frequent prayer sessions, Biblical expositions, as well as offering Christian based guidance and counseling. However, this have not been to the maximum as could be expected in religious contexts. This study recommends for revitalized pastoral reforms from both the schools and the church. This will ensure that secondary schools fully utilize the rich valuable chaplaincy ministry based on pastoral care and counseling services as facilitated by the respective religious sponsors.

Highlights

The role of the church in the contemporary learning institutions has been vital
The study is guided by the following questions: what is the role of religious sponsors in the holistic development of secondary school students in Nyeri County? And what are the challenges facing to religious sponsors in secondary schools in Nyeri County?
Despite this happening, most of religious sponsors have put into place complementary Christian pastoral care approach as a strategy to control the effects of the major contemporary social, moral and spiritual challenges faced by the students in secondary schools in Nyeri County

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The role of the church in the contemporary learning institutions has been vital. Based on the doctrinal and theological foundations of church’s understanding of practical theology, the church has been called to promote acquisition of positive values to its people which will facilitate social balance. This has made the successive Kenya governments to call for an effective guidance and counselling, along with pastoral care programmes to be introduced into all schools (Owinyo 2008) These challenges manifested in Kenyan secondary schools gives a clear image of poorly organized and emphasized chaplaincy services as supposed to be propagated by the respective religious sponsors. This leaves many questions on the Diakonian ministerial role of the church that emphasizes the Gospel in action based on pastoral responsibility alongside identify alarming cases in the society and take action to address the problems. The study is guided by the following questions: what is the role of religious sponsors in the holistic development of secondary school students in Nyeri County? And what are the challenges facing to religious sponsors in secondary schools in Nyeri County?

LITERATURE REVIEW

RESEARCH METHOD

AND DISCUSSION

Provides

Findings

CONCLUSION