Archbishop Palmer-Buckle Cautions Catholic Parents Against Protocol Admissions.

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, has cautioned Catholic parents against using protocol to secure admission for children who do not meet the academic requirements of their preferred Catholic schools.

He says the practice could undermine academic standards and, in the long term, threaten the sustainability of Catholic schools.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle urged Catholic parents to take their children’s education seriously by providing them with the necessary guidance, encouragement and support to perform well academically.

He said he was finding it increasingly difficult to assist some Catholic children seeking admission to St. Augustine’s College and Holy Child School in Cape Coast because of their poor academic performance.

According to him, some Catholic parents approach him to use his influence to secure admission for their children, but the academic results of some of the applicants make it difficult for him to do so.

He cited instances where parents approached him with aggregate scores as high as 32 while seeking admission to highly competitive schools such as St. Augustine’s College.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle questioned whether some Catholic parents were doing enough to support the education and overall development of their children.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast made the remarks at the 80th Anniversary Lecture of St. Paul’s Commandery No. 354 of the Knights of St. John International in Sekondi.

The lecture was held under the theme: “A Knight of Charity in a Synodal Church at the Service of Justice and Peace.”

Speaking on the significance of the anniversary theme, Chairman of St. Paul’s Commandery in Sekondi, Emmanuel Bissue, said the occasion should prompt members to reflect on the kind of legacy they are leaving for future generations.

He asked Knights of St. John to consider what God expects of them in their present roles and how they can translate their Christian faith into meaningful service to society.

Mr. Bissue said the vocation of a Knight of St. John is deeply rooted in Christian faith and service, stressing that membership goes beyond wearing the uniform or participating in ceremonies and other activities.

Story by Nana Fynn@W/R.