The Catholic Church is asking for clearly defined and documented roles for churches in the running of mission schools in the country. Archbishop of Kumasi, Most Reverend Thomas Mensah, says policy directives and practices have gradually eroded the influence of churches on schools they established. He laments the development has led to break-down of discipline, moral degeneration and ultimately, poor academic standards. Churches have over the years taken pride in the crucial roles they played in establishing schools and instilling discipline in students. State funding of the schools and policy have virtually ceded control to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service with churches having little to do. For instance, the existing educational organogram makes no provision for regional managers of mission schools. Most Reverend Mensah says this has come about because the role of churches has not been clearly defined in the running of schools. He regretted the initial partnership between the state and church which ensured good quality education in the past, has been abandoned in the last two decades. “They don’t even acknowledge the fact that we are there, if the organogram doesn’t even speak of us, does this show that we matter?” he asked. Most Reverend Mensah stressed the fact that government pays the emoluments and finances the schools does not mean they should have control over everything without any kind of consultation. He wants management and supervision of the schools placed under the church, warning the nation will remain underdeveloped until moral values receive serious attention. The Archbishop spoke to Luv News at a workshop by the National Catholic Secretariat on stakeholders in education delivery, working as a team. The workshop brought together District and Regional Managers of Education to push for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between government and church on the running of schools.