EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELIGION AND EDUCATION IN GHANA: A STUDY OF FAITH-BASED SCHOOLS

Autores/as

  • Adam Konadu Lecturer, Dr., Social Science Department, Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E.) Unit, St. Ambrose College of Education, Dormaa-Akwamu, Bono Region, Ghana orcid.org/0000-0002-0335-4299
  • Stephen Kyei Lecturer, Dr., Arts Department, Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E.) Unit, Berekum College of Education, Berekum, Bono Region, Ghana orcid.org/0000-0002-8641-0750
  • Dennis Tawiah Lecturer, Dr., Social Science Department, Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E.) Unit, Seventh-Day Adventist College of Education, Agona, Ashanti Region, Ghana orcid.org/0009-0008-1364-0767
  • Abraham Ofoe Agbenu Lecturer, Dr., Social Science Department, Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E.) Unit, St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana orcid.org/0009-0007-8121-1203
  • Elias Asante Teaching and Research Assistant, Department of Religion and Human Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana orcid.org/0009-0005-7088-1426
  • Evans Frimpong Department of World Christianity and Mission Studies, Global Institute of Theology, Yonsei University, South Korea orcid.org/0009-0006-7435-0697

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v12i3.2223

Palabras clave:

religion and education, faith-based schools, Ghana education system, moral formation, church-state relations, educational equity

Resumen

This study examines the complex and evolving relationship between religion and education in Ghana, with particular emphasis on faith-based schools as pivotal institutions in shaping academic achievement, moral formation, and socio-cultural identity. Drawing on qualitative documentary analysis and interdisciplinary perspectives from sociology of education, religious studies, and educational policy, the paper investigates how Christian, Islamic, and Pentecostal educational traditions influence pedagogical practices, institutional culture, and learner outcomes. The findings reveal that faith-based schools remain central to Ghana’s educational development, historically rooted in missionary and Islamic educational systems that laid the foundation for formal schooling in the country. These institutions continue to contribute significantly to discipline, academic performance, and values formation. However, they also face persistent challenges including gender inequality, socio-economic disparities, tensions in church–state relations, and uneven resource distribution. The study further highlights the dual role of faith-based education as both a driver of academic excellence and a site of social reproduction and inequality. It argues that the sustainability of faith-based education in Ghana depends on balanced policy frameworks that respect religious identity while ensuring inclusivity and equity. By integrating historical, theoretical, and empirical insights, the paper contributes to ongoing scholarly debates on religion and education in Africa and provides policy-relevant recommendations for strengthening educational governance in Ghana.

Biografía del autor/a

  • Adam Konadu, Lecturer, Dr., Social Science Department, Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E.) Unit, St. Ambrose College of Education, Dormaa-Akwamu, Bono Region, Ghana orcid.org/0000-0002-0335-4299

    Konadu Adam (PhD) holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies with specialization in Interfaith Relations and Religion and Society from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also holds a Master of Philosophy in Religious Studies from KNUST. He again holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education from the Catholic University of Ghana, all in Ghana. His research interests include the Comparative Study of Religion, Interfaith Relations, Religious Education, and Religion and Society. He is a Lecturer of Religious and Moral Education at St. Ambrose College of Education at Dormaa-Akwamu in the Bono Region of Ghana.

    Email: konaduadam@sace.edu.gh

  • Stephen Kyei, Lecturer, Dr., Arts Department, Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E.) Unit, Berekum College of Education, Berekum, Bono Region, Ghana orcid.org/0000-0002-8641-0750

    Kyei Stephen (PhD) holds a BA, M.Phil., and PhD in Religious Studies from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), with specialization in Systematic Theology, Church and Society, and Ethics. His research interests focus on liturgy, faith, and their impact on society. He currently serves as the Head of the Department of Arts and as a Lecturer in Religious and Moral Education at Berekum College of Education in the Bono Region of Ghana.

    Email: stephenkyei@becoled.edu.gh

  • Dennis Tawiah, Lecturer, Dr., Social Science Department, Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E.) Unit, Seventh-Day Adventist College of Education, Agona, Ashanti Region, Ghana orcid.org/0009-0008-1364-0767

    Dennis Tawiah (PhD) holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Religious Studies from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also holds a Master of Philosophy in Religious Studies degree from KNUST. His research interests include Biblical Studies, Religion and Society, Religious Education, and Moral Education, with a particular focus on how scriptural understanding influences ethical behaviour and social development in African contexts. He is a Lecturer in Religious and Moral Education at Seventh-Day Adventist College of Education at Agona in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

    Email: dennistawiah9@gmail.com

  • Abraham Ofoe Agbenu, Lecturer, Dr., Social Science Department, Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E.) Unit, St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana orcid.org/0009-0007-8121-1203

    Abraham Ofoe Agbenu (PhD) holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Religious Studies with specialization in Religious and Moral Education from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also holds a Master of Philosophy degree in the Study of Religions from the University of Ghana, Legon. His research interests include Religion and Society. He is a Lecturer in Religious and Moral Education at St. Francis College of Education at Hohoe in the Volta Region of Ghana.

    Email: abrahamofoe5@gmail.com

  • Elias Asante, Teaching and Research Assistant, Department of Religion and Human Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana orcid.org/0009-0005-7088-1426

    Elias Asante holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies, First Class Division, from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST), Kumasi. He is a Teaching and Research Assistant at the Department of Religion and Human Development at KNUST. His research areas include Ethics, Religion and Health, and Religion and Society.

    Email: asanteelias27@gmail.com

  • Evans Frimpong, Department of World Christianity and Mission Studies, Global Institute of Theology, Yonsei University, South Korea orcid.org/0009-0006-7435-0697

    Frimpong Evans holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Study of Religion from University of Ghana, Legon. He is currently pursuing a Master of Theology in World Christianity and Mission Studies at Global Institute of Theology- Yonsei University. His research interests include African Traditional Religious Practices, Christianity and Culture, Contextualization of Christianity, Missions from the Margin, Korean Protestantism, Religion and Human Existence, and Postcolonial Biblical Criticism. He is currently the Treasurer for Global Institute of Theology.

    Email: evansfrimpong577@gmail.com

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Publicado

2026-05-24

Número

Vol. 12 Núm. 3 (2026)

Sección

Articles