by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
“Among the many and grave duties of rulers who would do their best for their people, the first and chief is to act with justice – with that justice which is called in the schools distributive – towards each and every class” (Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum no. 27)
Since many Catholics may not be aware of the content of the 1960 Concordat, which governs the relationship between the Church and the State where Education is concerned, I wish to share with readers the content of this Concordat. There are some who believe that it is out of date and needs to be amended, while others wish to scrap it altogether. By raising your awareness of the content of the document, you will be able to join in any discussions that may arise regarding the future of the Concordat.
To help you understand the importance of this document, I refer you to His Grace’s statement in Catholic News (June 17, 2012) headlined: “Archbishop speaks on Pt Cumana issue: RC schools, our right”. Inter alia, he states:
“Given the mandate by Christ himself to teach all nations, the Church has an inalienable right to be involved in the education, not only of those who profess the Catholic faith, but of all who seek the path of salvation and who request that the Church be involved in their Christian formation or that of their children. As such, Bishops have the obligation and right to ensure that Catholic education is available for members of the Church and for all who desire it.
“The chief mission and responsibility of Catholic parents and of those who take their place, as indeed of all Christian parents, is to ensure that their children become imitators of Jesus Christ and citizens of the Kingdom of heaven. Catholic parents, as indeed all parents, have therefore the prime responsibility of educating their children in the faith which they espouse. It is for them to decide the means to be used to achieve this formation. Among those means Catholic schools have a special place. As Archbishop of Port of Spain, I will defend the rights of the Catholic Church in all spheres of life and especially in Catholic education.”
There are nine Clauses in the Concordat. Note as you read it that since its publication in 1960, the Government decided that schools will be refurbished and/or rebuilt at total cost of the Government:
“The Concordat of 1960: Assurances for the Preservation and Character of Denominational Schools – As approved by Cabinet
The Minister of Education and Culture wishes to clarify for general information some of the proposals on Education with reference to the re-organisation of Education so far as those proposals affect the Denominational Boards of Management, the Governing Bodies and Principals of Assisted Secondary Schools.
1. In relation to property, the ownership and right of direct control and management of all denominational primary and secondary schools will be assured to the denominations in whatever modifications of the existing system that may subsequently be introduced in the New Education Ordinance, and all existing rights, so far as property is concerned, will be respected.
2. In denominational schools, no books or apparatus, to which the denominational authority formally objects, will be introduced or imposed.
3. In denominational schools (unless the denomination concerned otherwise gives its consent) the religion of the particular denomination which owns the school will be taught exclusively and by teachers professing to belong to that denomination. In Government schools all recognised religious denominations will have access through their accredited representatives during the times specified in the time-table for the teaching of Religion to the pupils belonging to their faith. Pupils attending the schools of a denomination not of their own faith will not be compelled to take part in the religious exercises or lessons of that denomination.
4. The right of appointment, retention, promotion, transfer and dismissal of teachers in Primary Schools will rest with the Public Service Commission. A teacher shall not be appointed to a school if the denominational board objects to such an appointment on moral or religious grounds. Similarly, if a teacher be found unsatisfactory on these very grounds, moral or religious, the denominational authority shall have the right to request his removal to another school after due investigation. For these reasons it is proposed (provided the legal and constitutional arrangements allow) that vacancies as they occur in all schools should be advertised and applications submitted in the first instance to the respective Board of management which will examine them and forward them all, with their recommendations, to the Public Service Commission for final action.”
(To be continued)
