Editorial: The Catholic teacher: tightening the belt forever?

By  Ireneaus Chia Chongwain

There is no denying that the contemporary Catholic Education sub sector, like other schools in the confessional domain in Cameroon generally, is facing a mileage of difficulties. Some of these problems are enumerated in different pastoral letters on Catholic Education, delivered by some bishops of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province to Catholic education stakeholders just before the beginning of 2007/2008 Academic Year.

Summarily, these problems range from financial, economic and judicial voids, through low enrolment in Catholic schools, to policy deficiencies with regard to the promotion of confessional schools by the government. Part of the logical outgrowth of these problems is the Catholic teacher, who continues to sacrifice tremendously for the survival of Catholic education in an environment that is indisputably set on seeing confessional education die.

While addressing the Catholic Education Family just before  resumption this academic year, Archbishop Cornelius Esua, said he was grateful to  Catholic teachers who continue to bear the brunt of Catholic Education and for their dedication and unflinching loyalty amidst financial difficulties. He laid part of the blame on difficulties faced by teachers on what he qualified as, "---the discouraging and sporadic nature of Government subvention to private schools." As a result, he said, this has led to, "… the reduction and late payment of teachers' salaries."

Reviewing the situation of Catholic Education on the same occasion, the Bishop of Buea,  Immanuel Bushu, went further to explore the reasons behind government's lukewarm attitude towards the promotion of confessional, or better still, Catholic Education. He attributed this to a furtive Secularist agenda, whose exponents, he said, "…want a total elimination of Christianity and Christian values for non-Christian ideologies." Despite what the Bishop of Buea described as the "dedication and apostolic zeal of these teachers," they evidently, remain one of the collateral victims of government's hidden secularist agenda.
On his part, the Bishop of Mamfe, Francis T. Lysinge, paid a "glowing tribute to Catholic teachers who continue to make enormous sacrifices for the survival of Catholic schools in Mamfe Diocese." Lately the Bishop of Kumbo, George Nkuo has been calling on the lay faithful and benefactors to support the Catholic Education Family in his diocese.

From the bishops' positions, one can safely conclude that all is not well with Catholic Education and by extending, the Catholic teacher.  The pertinence of the bishops' positions notwithstanding, certain questions readily come to mind. Is it proper to simply continue asking Catholic teachers to make sacrifices? Against a backdrop of a competitive educational environment and government's overtly hostile policy towards confessional schools, are appeals of continual sacrifices and loyalty enough to keep the Catholic teacher going?

In the face of the growing difficulties encountered by Catholic teachers, perhaps the most important question is that recently asked by the Bishop of Mamfe: "what can we do as concerned Christians and people of goodwill," to help Catholic teachers who are facing dire financial problems. The survival of Catholic Education invariably depends on the survival of the catholic teachers. A sure way to kill Catholic Education is to forget about Catholic teachers or undermine their difficulties.

Reflections along these lines have been necessitated by the rising cost of living in different parts of the globe. While commending Catholic Education authorities, who continue working tirelessly to ensure that the salaries of Catholic teachers are paid, the Church itself constitutes a rich conglomeration of vast human resources whose non-complaisant diagnosis of the situation could provide a way forward for Catholic teachers. Isn't it a weakness to be in need in the midst of such vast human resources? The Catholic Church is working for the integral development of its faithful.

To solve the increasing health difficulties of its faithful, the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province has come up with the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province Health Scheme which offers quality and affordable health services to its adherents. To promote the Education Apostolate, can a Catholic Teachers Education Fund not be established? Contributions from benefactors and Christians could be channelled into the fund to supplement teachers' salaries and give speedy assistance to Catholic teachers who are already on retirement, but still waiting to have their documents processed. Commenting on the rational management of Church resources, the National Episcopal Conference has, among other measures, prescribed diocesan collegiality and solidarity, whereby rich dioceses assist poor one. Can this too, not be experimented in the educational domain?

While exploring salary boosting alternatives, parents and guardians have to continue ensuring the salaries of teachers by paying fees and other levies promptly and by sending their children to Catholic schools. While closing the 33rd Plenary Assembly of the Bishops of Cameroon, the Vice President of NECC, Mgr Samuel Kleda, acknowledged the difficulties faced by Catholic teachers, "Whatever be the case the problem is real and needs immediate solutions," he said. It is therefore  time to do something about the poor salary situation of Catholic teachers.

Comments

[Eugene Wirba]

i am happy that teachers situations are address in public as such. part of the problem has to do with unemployment. think of a teacher leaving because he/she is not well paid. how many applications will be filed on the managers table the next day.
i know the church tries her best but am disappointed when some vocabularies like "the catechist salaries start to enter in our vocabulary. hope their situation will one day be adressed.
i know the catechist are mostly part time but we also need to look at what they do with respect to their salaries.

[AllyM]

Catholic schools may become a thing of the past if the salary situation doesn't change. Not that other schools offer a much better one, but even so, greener pastures and all that.

[LeighMELTON24]

I guess that to receive the lowest-rate-loans.com from banks you ought to have a firm reason. But, one time I have received a credit loan, just because I was willing to buy a car.