By CSN Media
As the world marks the International Day of Education, the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Fr. Michael Banjo, has urged parents not to leave the formation of their children’s character and conscience solely to schools.
In his address to the staff of CSN and agencies of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the St. Gabriel Chaplaincy, CSN, Fr. Banjo emphasized that parents have a crucial role to play in shaping the moral values and principles of their children.
“No school or institution, no matter how good, can replace the duty of parents in the moral formation of the child,” he stressed.
Fr. Banjo noted that the conscience of children should be formed right from an early age, as it plays a vital role in guiding their decisions and actions. He encouraged parents to teach their children honesty, compassion, respect, and humility, not just through words, but also by practical example.
Emphasizing the importance of parental involvement in shaping the next generation, Fr. Banjo challenged parents not to be more concerned about what will become of the society, but about the quality of children they inject into the society.
“What kind of children do we want to inject into society? That should be the question…because when you ask, what kind of society will our children inherit, it seems as if the society is just there to transform itself.”
The International Day of Education is an annual international observance day dedicated to education, observed on January 24 every year. The celebration was adopted through a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), proclaiming January 24 as International Day of Education, aimed at celebrating the role of education in bringing global peace and sustainable development.
