Interviewed by Ireneaus Chia Chongwain
With just a few weeks left for the resumption of the 2007/2008 Academic Year, Catholic Education authorities have been evaluating the ground that has been covered this far. One of the most crucial difficulties Catholic Education officials are expected to deal with is the perennial problem of the late disbursement of state subventions to private schools. After Taking part in the 26th session of the National Commission on Private Education, the Assistant National Secretary for Catholic Education, Rev. Fr Giles N. Forteh, says the late disbursement of state subventions is plunging catholic schools into intractable problems Excerpts:
Father, you have just taken part in the 26th session of the National Commission on Private Education, may we know what discussions centred on during the just ended session?
We evaluated the conduct of the academic year 2006/2007 on a number of points, and proceeded to reflect on the judicious management of financial resources as a factor of quality education. Money collected for any public utility becomes public fund and thus has to be managed accordingly.
What was the specific contribution of Catholic Education to this meeting and could we know the main decision that was reached at the end of the meeting?
We presented a comprehensive report of the ground covered by Catholic education during the school year 2006/2007, highlighting such aspects as the administration of our schools, enrolment trends, pedagogy, pastoral care, finances, and extra curricular activities. The major decision that was reached concerns mainly the transparent management of resources in our schools.
During the annual evaluation meeting of Catholic Education Secretaries which held in Yaounde last month, one of the points that came up for discussion, was the late disbursement of subventions to Catholic schools by the government. What decision was taken to resolve this difficulty?
We strongly recommended that the government should show concrete proof of its appreciation of the enormous contribution of Catholic education to the project of the training of young Cameroonians, by putting in place, at the ministry of the Economy and Finance, an efficient mechanism for the prompt disbursement of subventions to private education.
The government's position on this matter is inconsistent with only public acknowledgement of the service which private education continues to render. Money meant to supplement the resources of schools within a given academic year is often paid one or two years later. Such a delay plunges the schools into intractable problems. The minister showed a deep understanding of the problem and promised to transmit it to hierarchy
Some people are arguing that the Catholic schools can function smoothly without subventions. What is your reaction to this claim?
Those who sustain this argument are mostly city dwellers, whose knowledge and experience are limited to schools in towns with impressive enrolments and parents who can pay the school fees without much difficulty. Take primary schools, for example, more 60 percent of Catholic primary schools are in rural areas where the enrolment is very low and, although the school fees are low, many parents are still unable to pay. School fees in Catholic primary schools generally range between FCFA 4.000 - 6.000 in rural areas, and FCFA 8.000 -12. 000, in urban areas. The quickest option will be to raise fees and conform to basic economics where income equals expenditure. If this were to happen within the present economic context, many Cameroonians will be deprived of the blessings of Catholic education.
Assess to education by the poor is a commitment assumed at different levels by the Church.
Throughout the centuries, the Church as Mother and Teacher has assisted different states to provide this most fundamental need and right of the human person. Any action likely to narrow the circle of the beneficiaries of Catholic education could be thought about only in the most extreme situation. Because of her solicitude for the poor, the Church charges low school fees, and thus needs state subvention in order to continue to offer to the state this priceless service. A statement on school fees in secondary schools will be necessary here. Two elements constitute school fees in our colleges: Tuition and boarding fees, that is where applicable.
Tuition ranges from FCFA 45000 - 55000, and boarding ranges from FCFA 130.000-140.000. All others requirements – books and uniforms, for example, are school needs whose prices are determined by market forces. What the school does is to facilitate their acquisition, so that at the beginning of the year all the students are found on their marks, ready to take off.
With just a few days to the official resumption of the 2007/2008 academic, what are some of the challenges facing Catholic Education at the moment?
Apart from the hindrance of limited financial resources, unpaid arrears of teachers in some areas, we need to provide adequate infrastructures, and to make sure that the curriculum is totally up-to-date, capable of responding to changes in the field of pedagogy and conforming to the specificity of catholic education. Lastly, there is the pastoral challenge. In the worrying circumstances of the present day, characterised, among other things, by cultural pluralism, we need to foster more and more a "Christian school climate", one which insures strong character formation. The school is undoubtedly a sensitive meeting-point of the problems which besiege our restless age.
The Catholic school is confronted with children and young people who experience the difficulties of the present time. Pupils, who shun effort, are incapable of self-sacrifice and perseverance and who lack authentic models to guide them, even within their own families. In an increasing number of instances they are not only indifferent and non-practising, but also totally deficient in religious an moral formation. The Catholic school has the task of forming the distracted youth of today.
What strategies have been put in place to alleviate, or at least reduce, some of these difficulties?
In keeping with their means, many schools are presently working on the infrastructure. Pedagogical seminars and orientation for new teachers are on the programmes of all the dioceses. During the meetings of school administrators, serious attention will be given to issues of pastoral concern. What is your evaluation of the performance of Catholic Colleges as far as the 2007 GCE results are concerned? As usual, Catholic schools recorded spectacular results. Their performance is the fruit of thorough planning and hard work. I take this opportunity to congratulate all the partners of catholic education: students, teachers and parents.
What future for Catholic education?
The future of catholic schools passes through the conviction, generosity and commitment of all Catholics. To keep pace academically, to restructure, to build and compensate teacher adequately, we need new resources for our schools. The key to the survival and growth of our schools, especially at the primary level, lies in the generosity and involvement of the entire catholic community. We need to send our children to our schools and to pay the prescribed school fees.
To pass on the faith and the traditions of our church is a responsibility of all catholic parents. The catholic only provides the ideal place to achieve this goal.
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