Port Elizabeth Catholic Schools Commit To Strengthen Religious Formation

by Kilian SC · Published December 2, 2019 · Updated December 1, 2019

The Catholic Board of Education of the Eastern Cape South region, following a national Catholic schools congress, has decided to strengthen religious formation of learners. Members agreed to ensure that Religious Education is timetabled at every school and that religious formation responds to the context and lived experiences of learners.

Catholic schools in Port Elizabeth have agreed to strengthen the religious formation of their learners, after the Catholic Board of Education of the Eastern Cape South met in the wake of the recent National Schools Congress.

Dominican Sister Aloysia Zellmann said the congress had left “no doubt in the minds of all present about the important role the Catholic schools played in the past and need to play in the future, for the sake of life for all, especially where the needs are greatest”.

Inspired by that, the regional Catholic Board of Education agreed to strengthen the Catholic identity and ethos in its schools.

Members also agreed to ensure that Religious Education is timetabled at every school and that religious formation responds to the context and lived experiences of learners.

“Education in and for the 21st century requires training of educators for the skills needed in our fast-moving, changing and challenging society,” Sr Zellmann said.

“Environmental education is an essential part of it. All of us can and must contribute to caring for our common home, Earth,” she said, echoing the resolutions at the meeting.

“Good practice of leadership and governance in the schools was stressed as essential, and this too may require appropriate training and formation,” Sr Zellmann said.

“Lastly, the sustainability, ownership and growth of our Catholic schools was discussed,” she said.

“This aspect calls especially on all in leadership in the network to think creatively about sharing resources and new possibilities of collaboration and ownership models.”