This paper aims at an exposition and appraisal of Catholic Education in Nigeria and the lessons for Catholic Education System in Abakaliki Diocese of Ebonyi State. Using the method of hermeneutics and exposition, the paper examined the degree to which Catholic Education has impacted values both temporal and eternal, changed orientations and effected developmental strides in Ebonyi State/Abakaliki Diocese and Nigeria. In the same vein, this paper identified that the failure of the government's responsibility towards education makes it imperative and an obligation for the Catholics to supply this deficiency lest Nigeria would be left at a precipice and our education standard jinxed. Towards achieving the stated goals, the paper gives conceptual and theoretical expositions of education in Nigeria and Abakaliki Diocese. Also, the paper gives the corresponding impacts of Catholic Education in the areas of human and spiritual formation, technological, political, economic and social transformation. In spite of the mentioned impact, this paper exposed some of the challenges to Catholic Education in Abakaliki Diocese and the corresponding effects such as poor infrastructures in our schools, non availability of learning materials, government tax policies, unhealthy competitions, gross irresponsibility of some education managers leading to corruption, poor supervision, poor implementation of both Catholic and National Education Policies, e.t.c. No doubt, these negative factors are portentous omen to Catholic Education and must be eschewed without compromise minding the devastating effect to Catholic Education and the future of Abakaliki Diocese. From the findings, it is obvious that in spite of the mentioned challenges, Catholic Education has doggedly made overwhelming, awesome and heartwarming effort to live to its mandate. The implication of the findings is a clarion call on all Catholic Education Managers to live up to her mandate as enshrined in Catholic Education and National Education Policies. Also, it is a call on the government to live up to her basic responsibilities in the Education system.
Education, Schools, Catholic, Abakaliki/Ebonyi, policy
