Peace Council, COMEU meet to validate MOU to guide mission schools

At a validation meeting, the National Peace Council (NPC), the Conference of Managers of Education Units (COMEU) and other stakeholders met over a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that provides guidelines for private and government-assisted mission schools to promote a safe learning environment and religious tolerance in schools.

The drafting of the MoU, which started in 2021, in partnership with various stakeholders in the education space aims, among others, to ensure that no student is hindered by religion in the pursuit of his/her academic dreams.

It would also enable students who choose mission schools to understand the culture, values, ethos, rules and regulations in those schools. Others respect prescribed uniforms and the mode of dressing of mission-based schools.
The ultimate intent of the document is to ensure that students can freely express themselves without fear of being attacked or intimidated on religious grounds.

At the meeting, The Chairperson of the Complaints and Conflicts Committee of the National Peace Council, Mrs. Joana Adzoa Opare, stated that the final draft would also be made available to all key stakeholders before implementation.

She said the idea was to develop a working framework to serve as a guide to ensure sustainable peace in schools. Mrs Opare said the NPC was guided by previous happenings in some senior high schools, especially over issues of fasting and the wearing of hijab by Muslim students.