By Soroj Mullick, SDB –
In the recent past the work of evaluating and certifying the Catholic institutions across the 14 regions of the country on the implementation of the “All India Catholic Education Policy” (2007) and its impact has been done. Seven thousand institutions have already been evaluated and certified.
Based on this evaluation, it is recommended that a section of action plan in each chapter can be introduced listing practical programmes; a study regionally on the existing policy with proposed changes or action plans can be held; the revised plan should deal with different levels of education – primary, high school, college, etc; revise after the feedback from church hierarchy and superiors of religious orders; the revised policy should also deal with climate change, making education relevant and scientific, pocso, women’s safety at work place compliance etc.
The suggestions that emerged out of the recent meeting held in Delhi, were as follows: concerns regarding gender discrimination, water, pollution, the 17 sustainable development goals need to be addressed while revising the policy; making a strictly policy statement and action plans emerging from the policy be drawn up at the regional and congregational levels.
Majority felt that chapter six of the existing policy that talks about paradigm shifts, had not been implemented. All should be involved in the implementation process taking into consideration the changing situations and challenges. Besides, matters regarding Catholic formation, relationship in the multi religious context, value education and concern for all people should be considered as well.
Heeding the cry of the Catholic Council of India to give education for all Catholics and give priority to the marginalized, the insistence of the CBCI that there be Catholic contribution to the guarantee of education for all as envisaged by the Free and Compulsory Education Bill of 2004, is still relevant.
Despite all the efforts, there is still neither universal enrolment of Catholics and the marginalized, nor sufficient retention, quality and relevant education of those enrolled. Disparity and inequality still exist. We need to ‘give the best to the least’.
Inclusive education should be stressed regarding Higher education and in order to make higher education effective, knowledge and skill in education need to be strengthened at the Primary education. There is need to move from management to animation, from maintenance to mission mode, from success to effectiveness, from subject orientation to pupil orientation, from me to we, from performance to seeking, from conventional to critical and from knowledge to wisdom.
We need to go beyond seminars and General Body meetings; there is a need to set up a National Education Research cell at the national level. In order to achieve this, the Church needs to go in for region wise and congregation wise study of the present policy in view of introducing changes, modifications and adaptations for which a commission may be set up to compile and draft the revised policy after the consultation process is over.
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].