by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
In my last article I shared the first four clauses of the 1960 Concordat. I now outline the last five clauses. Over the years a number of individuals have written about the Concordat, including Marion O’Callaghan and Prof John Spence whose excellent series (four in 2006 and four in December 2011) should inform our evaluation of Catholic Education. Inter alia, he says the Concordat is important “since 71% of the primary schools and 31% of the secondary schools are managed by the denominations. If, as seems to be generally agreed, the education system is deficient, the denominations cannot absolve themselves of responsibility by believing that the deficiencies are in government managed schools only.”
I agree with him that, “the denominations should immediately adopt a system of independent assessors, like the OFSTED system in theUK, so that there is clear diagnosis of the problems in individual schools. This should be a transparent process with the reports on each school being made public. I believe that the Board of Bishop’s East and Trinity East (Anglican schools), has started such a system which should be adopted by all the denominational boards. Instead of waiting for the Ministry to introduce reforms the denomination must use the freedom given to them by the Concordat to initiate their own reform of the system. I urge the Catholic Church, in particular, which has the control of the largest part of the education system, to act.”
Let’s support Archbishop Harris, the Catholic Education Board of Management (CEBM) and staff in our Catholic schools as they seek to improve the quality of teaching and learning thus promoting integral human development of ALL our students. I now outline hereunder Clauses 5 – 9 of the Concordat:
“Secondary Schools
5. The existing relationship between Government and the Governing Bodies and teachers in Assisted Secondary Schools will remain subject however, to negotiated changes inevitable with the introduction of Free Secondary Education and to a system of inspection of these schools by persons authorized to do so by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The Governing Bodies of these schools will continue to be responsible for the administration of these schools and for their maintenance, repair and furnishing. Those schools will continue to qualify for Government Aid. The Principals of Assisted Secondary Schools will make available a minimum of 80 per centum of the First Form entry places to those who, by passing the test, qualify on the results of the Common Entrance Examination for free secondary education. The Principals will be represented on the panel of examiners to be set up to administer the test. The Principals will be free to allocate up to 20 per centum, the remaining places as they see fit provided normally that the pass list of the Common Entrance Examination serves to provide the pupils. Entry above the First Form will be under the control of the Ministry of Education and Culture and will require the approval of the Minister.
6. Where the need arises for disciplinary reasons or unsatisfactory progress to remove a pupil from the school, the right to request such removal will remain with the Principal who may for the same reasons suspend a pupil pending investigation. Authority to expel a pupil is vested solely in the Cabinet. For disciplinary reasons the same principle will apply to Primary Schools.
7. All new Central Schools may be established only by Government for the simple reason that these schools are to be fed from the Primary Schools of all Denominations, as well as Government Schools, which may be in the area served by theCentralSchool. Where, however, the need arises for converting an existing denominational school into a secondary school, the denominational character of that school will be allowed to remain.
8. The selection of teachers for training at the teachers’ college is to remain solely with the Ministry of Education and Culture. Selection of teachers for training in the existing denominational training colleges may be made by the Denominational Boards, but such selection must be approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
9. It is the desire of the Government that all teachers be trained at the teachers’ college under Government supervision and administration. Government will however respect the rights of the existing training colleges conducted by the denominations; but no expansion of those facilities will be allowed without the expressed permission of Government.
Signed by Hon JS Donaldson, Minister of Education & Culture, on behalf of Cabinet on 22 December 1960, and published on 25 December, 1960.”
