Anglican Communion News Service

Bishops self-select session
this afternoon

Photo Credit: ACNS

Reverend David Peck, Archbishop of Canterbury’s Secretary for International Development and Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, addressed a number of bishops in an afternoon session at the Lambeth Conference, focusing on the development of education in fragile state settings and the church’s role in scholastic development. In attendance were the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams and the Archbishop of Burundi, Bernard Ntahoturi. 

“Education for all is not only a right for children, but a necessity,” said Archbishop Ntahoturi in his comments, while further focusing on the elements of education involved in peacemaking, “Education will be an instrument - a tool - for reconciliation in Burundi.”

Burundi, currently the poorest country in the world according to the World Bank, has an average classroom size of 90 to 100 children - over twice the average size of a United Kingdom class.

“The needs are huge and great! We are making this call so that others may contribute and help.”

“If we are to break that cycle of poverty, education is vital,” said Alexander.

Currently 75 million children throughout the world are living without the provision of formal education. Alexander said, “Without the churches’ putting their corporate shoulder to the wheel, millions of children would be without education.”

“It is an amazing gift to give a child an education.”

Revd. David Peck, centered upon the necessity for a collaborative structure between the church and national government to tackle the issue of education. “Schools must be a model for social living,” said Peck., “Church schools are chosen because of their safety.”