Return missionary schools to original owners, Cardinal Onaiyekan tells govts

By PETER DURU

MAKURDI—Bothered by the falling standards of education in the country, Head of the Abuja Ecclesiastical Province of the Catholic Church, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has urged state governments to return all missionary schools to their original owners in order to stem the steady decline of standards in the sector.

Onaiyekan spoke weekend, in a sermon he delivered during a Thanksgiving Mass and Reception organised for him by his alma mater and Old Boys of St. Michaels’ Secondary School, Aliade in Benue State.

He said: “The take over of missionary schools by state governments was wrong as it has not helped the sector in any way whatsoever, given the steady decline of standards in that sector.

”That is why it has become imperative for state governments to return the missionary schools to their rightful owners without further delay.

”What governments need do is to collaborate with the owners of such schools and assist in whatever way possible, because you cannot take over what does not belong to you.

”The missionaries should be allowed to run their schools, so that we can properly bring up our children in the right way possible. Until this is done, the schools will continue to yearn for a return to their original owners just as the standards in our education sector will continue to deteriorate.’’