By Soroj Mullick, SDB –
Education finds its place within a particular social and historical context and is influenced by it. We identify here some of the key social, religious, political, cultural and structural factors which define the context and influence education. Within the continued socio-economic changes and the weakening of the public institutions due to political motives and instability, Christian education has to communicate the ‘Wisdom of God’ more convincingly, while leading the person to the Transcendent.
Christian educative pastoral work is not just any activity, but a conscious commitment to the Church’s mission involving the triune of mind-body-spirit of both the educator as well as the educand. We try to identify the Church’s educative role, policy, its crisis and problems, through Pedagogical Traditions, thus bringing in the sacred.
We emphasize on the Christian educational traditions in India making it the ideal education with the preferential option for the marginalized as noted by the Catholic Educational Policy (2006) while proposing some new frontiers.
Along with the inter-communitary dialogue, the emphasis is given on the specific Christian dimension of education. For the unity in cultural diversity and religious pluralism, we expose its educational implications, stating that justice and peace are constitutive parts of Christian education, along with the participation of all religions through collaborative dialogue, thus giving a true understanding of Christian education. Indian Catholic Matters is indeed grateful to Fr Soroj Mullick for this insightful and incisive paper and is proud to carry this as a series of articles in the coming days.
Introduction
The Absolute is revealed progressively for the integral salvation of all beings through creation, nature, history, events, cultures and traditions within a pluralistic situation. In the midst of globalisation, Christian education communicates the Word, the self-revelation of God in Jesus Christ, the ‘wisdom of God’, for a ‘life in abundance’ while leading the person to the Transcendent.
If the above statement is held true, then Christian educative pastoral work is not just any activity, but a conscious commitment and a total dedication to the mission with one’s total ability oriented towards saving souls through the school/college apostolate. It involves the triune of mind-body-spirit of both the educator as well as the educands, each enriching the other with the intention of realising the ‘image and likeness of God.’ Catholic education fulfils the mission of Jesus, “that they may have life and have it in abundance” (Jn 10:10).
Education, like other social activities finds its place within a particular social and historical context and is influenced by it. We identify here some of the key social, cultural and structural factors which define the context and influence education because they are closely interlinked. With the continued economic growth, rising standard of living, institutionalisation of social changes, there is political instability in India.
Certainly, there has been expansion of secondary and higher education that has increased the number of students. The technological changes with the developments of micro-electronics the unemployment is on the rise among the young, many of whom are qualified. Even the economic institutions are affected by technological changes which modify the work culture, domestic lives and educational system as well. Within this scenario, in the midst of mismanagement, inequality and corruption in the educational fields, the vulnerable groups strive to defend their rights and interest. The level of violence and the widespread scepticism about the political processes are all symptoms of these changes.
What makes Christian schools really Christian? How does Christian education nourish and renew the faith of the Christian students in innovative ways? Are our schools curriculum centred or child centred? Are we reaching out to the neighbourhood?
We try to find answers to these questions and discuss ways to bring in a major revamp in the syllabus and examination pattern, on grades and marks, smart classes, e-learning, in-service teacher-training, extra-curricular activities and emphasis on practical studies in addition to theory in order to suit the need of the hour.
We do this while trying to identify the Church’s educative role, its crisis and problems, through Pedagogical Traditions, thus bringing in the sacred. We affirm that the contextualised Indian educational system can contribute towards a well-founded Christian Education, where the dialogical and narrative Emmaus approach of Jesus, becomes a model and His pedagogy of encounter, a method.
We emphasize on the Christian educational traditions in India making it the ideal education with the preferential option for the marginalised. The salvific act of God, that leads humanity through the various stages of development within diverse cultures, consequently leading towards a growth into the image and likeness of God, is the divine pedagogical process.
This has its relevance to Christian education that envisages the knowledge of God (Hosea 6:6), who is the Way, Truth and Life (Jn 14:6), and enables persons to participate in this struggle to form and create a new humanity. If so, a renewal of Christian education is felt necessary.
Along with the inter-disiciplinary and inter-communitary dialogue, the emphasis is given on the specific Christian dimension of education, defining it as a hermeneutical science of the Word of God based on the Gospel and culture, that goes beyond the analytical knowledge. For the unity in cultural diversity and religious pluralism, we expose its educational implications, stating that justice and peace are constitutive parts of Christian education, along with the participation of all religions through collaborative dialogue, thus giving a true understanding of Christian education.
To be continued…
Fr. Soroj Mullick, SDB is a Salesian priest from the Kolkata Province. He has a Licentiate in Catechetics and a Doctorate (Christian Education) from UPS, Italy. He has number of years of teaching experience in college and in the formation of future priests. Besides, he has written number of research papers and articles, and has 25 years of Ministry in India and abroad as Educator, Formator, Retreat Preacher, Editor and engaged in School, Parish Catechetical & Youth Ministry. He is now an assistant priest in Bandel Basilica, rendering pastoral and catechetical ministry to the parishioners and to the pilgrims. He can be contacted at [email protected].