Christian students, tribals and Dalits would be given special attention in Catholic schools to help them keep pace with their privileged peers.
Schools to offer extra coaching to students
NEW DELHI: Christian students, tribals and Dalits would be given special attention in Catholic schools to help them keep pace with their privileged peers. This was stated explicitly by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), in response to parents’ apprehensions that a quota for the underprivileged in schools and colleges would dilute the standard of education.
“We will get some students who might not be able to cope with the academic demands,” said CBCI spokesperson Father Babu Joseph. “Our institutions will provide extra coaching to these students. In fact, our schools are doing it in some parts of the country.”
“Our attempt is not to compromise on quality but to introduce equitable education,” he said.
Reiterating that the CBCI is concerned about imparting quality education to students, the spokesperson said: “We are a responsible national organisation and we have only one goal —- that of national development. Our agenda is open and everybody can see it.”
Joining issue with some parents in Mumbai who believe that the quota would impair the brand name of Catholic educational institutions, Father Joseph said: “Our policy takes a view of the socio-economic profile of the entire nation, wherein a large percentage of people are still socially and economically deprived.” Joseph said it is the responsibility of the government as well as social and religious organisations to look after the interests of this section of society.
Another highly-placed source in the church agreed with Joseph’s views. Asked if the church agreed with the concern expressed by Mumbai parents over a slip in educational standards, he said: “They have the option of sending their children to government schools. All of us have a responsibility towards the underprivileged in the villages and mofussil towns.”
To a question on why the Church did not think of such action earlier, the source said: “Things evolve with time. The government is doing many things now that it never thought about doing earlier.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}