O level Notes : FRS - Religion And Education - Religion and establishment of educational Institutions and capacity building
In Indigenous Religion, values cut through every human activity and are integral to human existence. Values motivate most learners to engage in any learning activity. Values in informal education are a foundation for lifelong learning as a basis for participatory democracy, equity and social justice. These values inculcate in the individual elements of a citizen and the need to project the good names of the family and community. The values define those who have been truly 'educated and graduated'.
Religion and establishment of educational institutions and capacity building
Church leaders can be motivating forces to encourage believers to engage in projects that will capacitate them and contribute to the attainment of sustainable development. The church is a positive influence for change as it is often well respected and listened to within communities. It can act as catalyst for change in the local community transforming lives, attitudes and behaviour. This can be done effectively through education. Hence mainline churches are involved in the construction of schools and tertiary institutions. Examples of such institutions are Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU), vocational centres, high schools like Mazowe Boys High, St. Alberts and Sandringham, St. Antony's among others and crèches.
Churches like Apostolic Faith mission in Zimbabwe and mainline churches such as Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist Church among others have also managed to build universities, hospitals, schools, and conference centres. Some have also managed to build teacher training institutions. An estimated 90% of boarding schools in rural areas of Zimbabwe belong to churches. Also about 20% of boarding schools in towns belong to them as well. This shows that the churches channel their resources to remote parts of the country more than the government thereby promoting sustainable development in these areas.
However, despite their achievements other church members of the certain churches seem to be satisfied with a low life style. They seem to have accepted the fate that life on earth is temporary therefore no need to waste resources in education or building schools or educational infrastructure. They do not emphasise on improving their standard of living as it is contrary to their belief about how they should worship God. Observations have shown that even where they conduct their services there are no buildings and proper sanitary conditions.
Their services are conducted in mountains and under trees. They even see the building of temples and schools as sheer wasting of time since they will go to heaven.
Christian religious institutions
Some of the religious educational institutions are:Africa University which was built by United Methodists, Catholic University built by the Roman Catholic Church, Seventh Day Adventist runs Solusi University in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Ezekial Guti University (ZEGU) in Bindura built by the Forward In Faith ministries (ZAOGA), Morgenster Teachers’ College built by the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe, Nyadire Teacher's College built by the United Methodist Church and the Zion Christian Church University which is under construction, just to mention but a few.
JUDAISM
The Jews have played an important role in the building of educational institutions in Zimbabwe. The Rhodesian Jewish Board of Deputies and the Jewish Community developed institutions to serve and strengthen the community in the 19th century. The educational institutions include two Jewish Day Schools one in
Harare called Sharon Day Schools and the other in Bulawayo called Carmel school. Both schools have a large percentage of African and Indian students, along with local Jewish children. It is unfortunate that many Jews have left the country due to economic problems. In Kadoma, for example, fewer than 20 Jews remain in the city, with no children. This scenario has affected the religion's involvement in building educational institutions. Books of Zimbabwe, a project of congregation for Humanistic Judaism, have collected a number of books for delivery to village schools in Zimbabwe in 2012.
Islam
Islam is a religion which promotes education at all levels and to both males and females, whether it's formal and informal education. The first verse revealed to Prophet Muhammad is a command to read, meaning seek knowledge hence the thrust in education. Islam promotes the academic and religious education so that the children grow up with sound academic as well as good moral behaviour so that they can be useful law abiding citizens. To this end, it must be noted that Muslims in Zimbabwe have a duty to contribute towards the development of the nation by building public infrastructure like schools.
The Africa Muslim Agency is an Islamic educational centre that helps orphaned children. The Muslims built a school in Mvurwi. They are also involved in drilling boreholes in educational institutions like schools and colleges. Recently they have become active in the teaching of Islamic religious fundamentals as resource persons in schools that offer Family and Religious Studies. They also provide necessary reading material for both learners and facilitators. An example of such Islamic organisation is the New Hope Charity Trust.
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