Sabbath 12/9/32/120

Dear Friends,

This week we enrolled a significant number of baptised adults of CCG in Uganda in the literacy education program there.  This fact raised the issue of education in CCG and especially in the developing nations. It also reinforced the need for education in CCG worldwide.

Our responsibilities in educating the people of the Church of God are enormous. We are faced with setting up a distance education program and also an onsite schooling capacity for children and adults. The first task is to determine just how many adults we have that cannot read and write adequately in their native language and also in English or French. Consequently all national coordinators are to ensure that each of their local coordinators determines these literacy facts and notifies them of how many people in their parish fall into these categories of literacy in 1) Native dialect, 2) Kiswahili, 3) English (or French). They are to notify World Conference of the details and also as to how many women and children they have in their hundreds or thousand requiring education. All men, women and children are to be educated.

In each church group the coordinator is to nominate an officer in charge of Women’s Affairs, Youth Affairs and Child Education. They are to form part of the District Committee for those matters. Each district Committee is to provide a representative for the National Committees which will oversee Woman’s Affairs, Youth Affairs and Child Education and Development.

The National Conferences are to implement the Standing Operating Procedures (A3) as detailed in A3. These are the appointment of captains of tens, fifties, hundreds, thousands and divisional commanders as detailed in the Bible for the structures of the Israel of God. Lists of the names of all commanders are to be sent to World Conference.

Education will consist of a distance education facility set up through the web site from child to tertiary equivalent levels.

Teachers will commence the programs in offering the following subjects as a distance education facility taught in local areas. All church buildings are to be used as schools during the week where available. All qualified teachers are to assist. Names of qualified teachers are to be sent to the National and World Conferences.

A web site is now being set up for CCG College. The Education site will be geared to the following ages.  Infants, i.e. Preschool, Kindergarten, years 1 and 2; Primary school at years 3, 4, 5, 6; Secondary school at years 7-12; and University level 1, 2, 3, Honours, MA. PhD.

The earlier levels are to be for Science (Physics, Chemistry and Biology), Maths I and II, English, Kiswahili, French, Arabic, History (Ancient and Modern), Geography, Religious Studies at all levels and Logic at Years 10-12 and Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Studies at Uni equivalent levels. There are to be Agricultural Development Studies and IT subjects taught also with Secondary Computer Studies. Development Studies are to be run from the Project Development Office in Uganda. The College will be divided into faculties, Arts, Education, IT and Development Studies. Education will be divided into Child Education, Secondary and Tertiary and Distance Education Studies. The entire schools’ system will be run through the appropriate education department. Health and Nursing will be added as circumstances permit. There is to be a School of Music. The curriculum is to be a distance education system that can be handed in booklet and CD form to teachers in local schools so that a set standard is achievable and parents work to the same standards and can assist local teachers. Examinations and teacher training are thus of an international set standard.

The Department of Distance Education is to consist of divisions of English, French, Kiswahili, Arabic, East and Central African languages. Hopefully we will be able to offer Asian Languages soon. Home schooling is to be offered to all nations where possible under Distance Education, and all curriculums are to be designed for that purpose.

The Science and some other curriculums are already underway. We will commence from the Infants levels first and get infant, home schooling and adult literacy established as first priority. There are many thousands of illiterate people coming in to CCG and we need to get everyone literate soonest.

There will be four or five graduate teachers as senior masters of the school systems at each level of the CCG College run from the Faculty of Education. They will supervise each subject and curriculum.

Each National Board of Education comprised of the District officers will implement the Education program under the supervision of the College masters and professors for each subject. National accreditation will be undertaken in consultation with World Conference. Where possible we will enable both the college certificate of education and the national equivalents to HSC and tertiary levels.

Each district is responsible for the establishment of schools and for adult education. All children in East, Central and Southern Africa are to be taught English and also Kiswahili in East Africa and also French in Burundi and the Congo. All education from Primary School upwards is to be in English and Kiswahili where relevant.

Each nation is to work to establish a trade training facility for apprentices. National Coordinators are to discuss the national accreditation policy on trade training with the local government authorities in conjunction with World Conference.

We hope to establish a radio station in the near future that will assist in the literacy and adult learning and also in the Religious Studies and History elements.

The issue of relevant certificates on completion of the appropriate exams to World Conference standards will come from CCG College. We hope to have accredited degrees before too long.

Colours of the college and schools are to be white and two blue bars, as per the flag. School Uniforms are to be white shirts and blue or grey trousers/shorts.  Sports uniforms are to be white with two blue bars.      They can be on the chest or on the sleeves. The Socks are to be white and may have two blue bars on the top. National and local teams are to have distinctive uniforms for Regional and National Competitions. Athletics is to be encouraged and talent developed.    

In addition to the academic subjects Music Appreciation is also to be given as a subject for the schools and also in the churches. Each Church is to have an appointed choirmaster and where possible a music teacher. There is to be a church and school choir.

Districts are also to select a district choir which will compete in national/regional competition following the district competitions. Gifted children are to be identified and encouraged and individuals may compete.

Videos are to be taken of the district choirs and the best will be selected for use on the CCG web site.  The Audios will be available for downloading and on CD. National Coordinators are to have the hymnals translated into the local languages where possible. This is a task of the music teachers of the national conferences. Songs used are to be vetted for appropriate theological content.

The opportunity for us to educate all of our people to the highest possible levels regardless of age and circumstances now exists. Please all work together to make this work and establish us as a well-educated force to be valued.

Pray that God makes us successful and empowers us with the Holy Spirit to succeed.

Wade Cox
Coordinator General