MOMBASA — The National Association of Christian Chaplains (NACC) has issued a call for a unified approach between religious bodies and governmental agencies to foster moral values within the community. This appeal came during the 14th Annual National Chaplaincy Conference held in Mombasa, which focused on the critical role spirituality plays in nurturing a healthy societal fabric.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Secretary of NACC, the association acknowledges the detrimental effects that issues such as greed, corruption, violence, and a widespread decline in personal and societal ethics have on societal development. He emphasized the importance of integrating moral education within the school curriculum through partnerships between churches, the government, and educational institutions to instill ethical values.
The conference, themed ‘The role of spirituality in building a healthy society’, saw the participation of chaplains primarily engaged within the educational sector. Rev. Gatu highlighted the essential role chaplains occupy in promoting values among students, expressing concern over the increasing trends of moral degeneration, including alcoholism, drug use, and substance abuse within schools.
Rev. Gatu also called on lawmakers to enact regulations that support societal norms and combat the sexualization seen in advertisements and online sexual exploitation. He advocated for increased funding towards psychosocial support initiatives, noting a rise in mental health issues within the community and schools. The NACC secretary stressed the necessity of bolstering chaplaincy and counseling services within educational institutions to provide adequate psychosocial and spiritual support.
Furthermore, the chaplains expressed their approval of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) for its focus on value inculcation and development of critical thinking skills among learners. Rev. Gatu praised the CBC for its potential to enhance the education sector by unlocking the talents of young individuals and stressed the beneficial impact of including chaplaincy programs to promote collaboration, self-efficacy, and problem-solving capabilities among students.
The NACC also lauded the Ministry of Education for drafting policy guidelines aimed at institutionalizing chaplaincy in basic learning institutions, urging a swift finalization of these guidelines to formalize the role of chaplaincy in supporting ethical education and spiritual growth.
