What exactly is Catholic education?

Mark Potterton, director of the Catholic Institute of Education, answers some Frequently Asked Questions on Catholic schools. His answers are based on a document developed over a period of two years by Paul Faller and the late Professor Peter Hunter. In a Church with over 2000 years of history, he notes, there are no quick answers!

There are no easy answers!

What is the purpose of a Catholic school?

The purpose of the Catholic School is to provide a good all-round education in the spirit of the gospel of Jesus, aspiring in particular to live out its central message and challenge: to worship the God who loves us, to love and help our fellow human beings, and to learn to exercise responsibility for the world around us.

Founded on that teaching, the school maintains a Catholic ethos—that is, a set of lived values and attitudes—which influences all aspects of the school’s life. These include activities in and beyond the classroom, relationships among staff members, parents and learners, and disciplinary procedures.

What is the role of Religious Education in the Catholic school?

An indispensable aspect of Catholic ethos is a strong and vibrant Religious Education programme, drawn up in accordance with Fostering Hope, the policy of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

The ethos entails therefore a development of the spiritual capacity for faith, hope and love. It also requires the upholding of the dignity of the human person, of all beings, and of all creation, with a special concern for the poor and the marginalised. Outreach to others, pastoral care for all, and celebration of the school’s religious character are of the essence of this ethos.

What role does the Catholic school play in society?

The school is concerned with preparing learners to take their place in society as responsible, honest and compassionate citizens. While classroom teaching is compliant with the objectives of the National Curriculum, the search for excellence and depth in teaching and learning is shaped by a Catholic vision of life.

This means that all curriculum areas are integrated in a meaningful way and infused with this particular vision. The school is staffed by qualified, competent personnel who give witness to the school’s values and help to foster its special ethos.

Are Catholic schools only for Catholics?

The school strives to be relevant to and welcoming of all persons, irrespective of gender, race, culture or religion. It welcomes teachers, parents and learners who may not be Catholic but who respect the Catholic ethos and seek its values.

Respect is accorded to the faith of all members of the school community, to their different religious identities, backgrounds and traditions. Openness and dialogue are encouraged and practised as a means of intellectual, moral and spiritual development.

Are Catholic schools public or private?

Catholic schools can be either. Some are independent, private schools—some of them are wealthy, but most are located in poor communities. Other schools, known as Public Schools on Private Property, are owned by Catholic bodies, but funded by the state.

Public Schools on Private Property: These are schools on Church-owned property. They were formerly called state-aided schools and now exist under Section 14 of the South African Schools Act (1996). Under agreements signed with provincial education departments the schools have the right to promote and preserve their special religious character.

Independent Schools: These schools are owned by dioceses and religious congregations. The majority serve predominantly disadvantaged communities. Of these schools, 75% are in townships or rural areas often offering superior education in spite of being under-resourced.

What role do parents and community have in a Catholic school?

The school works in cooperation with parents, the local Church, the wider community and the institutions of civil society.

Where the Catholic school is a public school, the governing body includes the principal, and parents (who constitute the majority), representatives of the school owner (a religious congregation or a bishop), of the school staffs and of learners from Grade 8 and above.

Section 57 of the South African Schools Act protects the right of such owners to ensure that the religious character of the school is maintained.

In the case of an independent school the Act makes no reference to a religious character nor to the composition of a board or governing body. The school authorities are free to make their own decisions on these matters.