Roman Catholic Diocese against teaching commission…

The controversy over the establishment of the Teaching Services Commission, as a part of the proposed Ministry of Education’s amendments to the Education Act, continues despite claims by the Ministry that the changes will stabilize Belize’s educational system. According to Minister of Education, Honorable Patrick Faber, the commission’s management of teacher applications and subsequent approvals of study leave, long leave and transfers will inevitably take away some of the responsibilities of the managements of primary and secondary schools. That is the Ministry’s view but one not necessarily shared by many stakeholders as evidenced by the Methodist Diocese statement in July. Despite ongoing consultations since June of this year, the church state educational system appears to still be in crisis. It seems that the Ministry’s hope was religious-based institutions would simply surrender power to the M.O.E. and change if not end the church-state system as we know it. Well with the new school year drawing closer, the Catholic Diocese has broken its silence to make its official position known. In a press release issued yesterday by the Managing Authorities of the Roman Catholic Schools, the Diocese says, (Quote) “the proposed amendments to the Education Act and Rules is a breach of our rights as proprietors and managing authorities of our catholic institutions.” (Unquote) Despite Minister Faber’s claims that the amendments will better the future of the education system, the Catholic Diocese says that the church and the ministry must undergo meaningful dialogue if they are to remain partners in the education system. Vicar General of the Diocese, Father Noel Leslie told us more.

Fr. Noel Leslie, Vicar Gen, Diocese of Belize City/Belmopan
“The Ministry of Education has a right to do all in its power to solidify education in this country to better education in this land of ours. But at the same time, in a church-state relationship, it is a partnership; it has existed for a long time. It is very important that the Ministry of Education and the church enter what we call a meaningful dialogue concerning education and other issues.”

Duane Moody
“But haven’t attempts been made for the ministry and the churches to get together and discuss this on a neutral ground?”

Fr. Noel Leslie
“Well yes, the Catholic Church belongs to a Catholic Council of Churches and we can meet as a body to discuss as to what is of common good to all of us. But at the same time, the Catholic Church is the Catholic Church. It has its own approach to things. When I say own approach, not to say we are isolated from the rest, but it has an approach to education, it has been in this field for a very long time and it wants to make sure that whatever decisions are made will be for the benefit of its members because remember the church is here to serve its members and our people do have expectations of us. Our people tend to send their children to a Catholic school because they have expectations of a Catholic institution so they expect their children to learn Catholic values and so forth. If the ministry of education has a dominant say in everything, that can be quite dangerous in time, then we could lose that particular aspect of who we are. And then the big question will come out, should we remain in this area of work.”

The Catholic Diocese manages and operates close to sixty percent of all schools in Belize.