FAQ

CEDAC is Christian Education Development Advisory Centre, Initially known as NEAC (Northern Education Advisory Council). It is an organization formed by various Protestant Christian Denomination which were proprietors of Mission Schools in Northern Nigeria. It is a body of Churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. It is neither governmental. Sentimental nor political in nature.

Member-Churches in CEDAC pursue the vision of Ecumenism as they seek to encourage Christian Education in the Northern part of Nigeria. It also seek visible unity of Churches with profitable vision to advice the government on Christian Education matters where needed.

The Christian Education Development Advisory Centre began in 1947 with the headquarters in Jos and later in Kaduna, Nigeria.

The aim of CEDAC is to encourage Member-Churches to establish school, and employ committed teachers to teach in them. To educate leadership of leaders within its membership. We do that though:

• Promoting both Christian and general/secular education within the membership
• Encouraging Churches to establish schools at all levels and employ committed teachers to teach.
• Organizing workshops, seminars, refresher courses, conferences for Church leaders, Christian teachers and heads of schools.
• Operating scholarship programmes in conjunction with our overseas friends/organizations.
• Helping in producing and recommending relevant text-books for schools.
• Ensuring that the teaching of Bible knowledge in both Christian and government schools through dialogue with government and / or regulatory agencies.
• Ensuring that teachers of Bible knowledge are committed Christians, able to inculcate Christian values in the pupils or students.
• Serving as an umbrella-body, regulating the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge in schools own by members of CEAC.

Six Member-Churches/Denominations who were all protestant began from the beginning.

As at middle of 2022,CEDAC had 15 registered members. These members come from the 19 the North.

Application form is bought from CEDAC office and completed by the member-body and Submitted to the Executive Secretary and are reviewed to the Council in sitting. There are various criteria’s to be met, as described in section eight of its Constitution. The major requirement is any church which agrees with the vision and mission of CEDAC and operates an Educational Institution may be admitted into Membership.

For now no, except a Church withdrews for a moment and came back due to lack of understanding what CEDAC is and what it can do for Members  by the leadership of the particular Church. Now the Churches are all intact. But that can happen if found wanting.

The highest decision-making body is the Board of Trustees followed by The Council (which is made up of at least two members from the registered churches/denominations). The Council meets officially three times a year (March, July and Novembers).  Followed by Executive Secretary, usually seconded by a denomination or a permanent staff on promotion. CEDAC has three departments with its Director known as Administrative, Education and Investment departments. Finally CEAC has other staff to man other activities.

It has been very difficult to determine what is cost to run CEDAC. The reason is due to the attitude of Member-Bodies towards payment of dues. An example is, in 2021 , (which is referred to as the most fruitful within the last ten years) the sum of 9,3million was budgeted but at the end of the year only 1.221,180.00 was raised. From Education, 27,698,000 was budgeted only 10,749,733.02 was realized. Which has been very difficult for CEAC to survive.

Dues from Member-Bodies has been the major source of income. Contributions from well-wishers, friends and Organizations but very meager. Registration forms for Membership and Workshops. From the Summer School,( a little is also realized after all expenses.)

The annual dues is calculated using a method that is fair, transparent and objectively determined for all members. The formula we use is such that takes into consideration the size and relatively financial strength of a Member-Church.

CEDAC currently has three permanent staff in its main office. It has three part time workers under Education and about 80 adhoc teacher teaching in its eight satellite centres of its NCE programme namely, Kaduna, Kachia, Zonkwa, Saminaka, Bassa, Gwantu, Sarkin Pawa and New-Wuse.

No, not yet but we wish to have more in the future. But each member-body represents CEDAC wherever it is in the North.