Finance
As early as the middle of the 19th century, the Ethiopian Catholic Church has been engaged in social and development interventions throughout the entire country. The first Catholic School in Ethiopia was established by Lazarist Fathers also known as the Vincentians. It was begun by Mgr. Justin de Jacobis in 1844 at Guol’a (Adigrat), Northern Tigray. Similarly, Nekemte Catholic Church has one of the earliest involvements in education. In West Showa Zone, Metcha Borodo, the Catholic Church School was the first foot print in 1921 soon followed by schools at Sakko and Ghimbi in Kellem Wollega and West Wollega in 1926 and 1929 respectively.
Social Teachings of the Catholic Church
The principles and practices of catholic education in catholic schools lay upon the foundations of the values of Catholic social teachings which include:
1. Dignity of the human person: Who is subject to basic rights and duties, free and sociable?
2. Preferential options for the poor: Being pro-poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized
3. Solidarity: Working and partnering together with all with shared vision and values
4. Stewardship: Using project, community resources and time cost-effectively and responsibly
5. Respect for the common good: Shared ownership and responsibility for what is right thing to do
6. Subsidiarity: Sharing authority with partners, accepting co-responsibility and autonomy
7. Accountability and transparency: Complying and maintaining honesty, integrity and openness
Strategic Objectives
The strategic objective of education program of Nekemte Catholic Church includes the provisions of access quality education to school age children with the following intermediate result objectives:
Improving access and quality of education to school age children in schools
Enabling needy rural students especially girls providing selective support system
Improving the supply of teaching and learning facilities;
Strengthening the supervision, inspection and professionalization of teachers;
Exploring ways and means to generate income to supplement running costs such as using school back yards to grow vegetables and selected crops for food and sales