PASTORAL LETTER ON EDUCATION

VARKEY CARDINAL VITHAYATHIL, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, to the Archbishops, Bishops, priests, Men and Women Religious and Lay Faithful of the Syro-Malabar Church, blessings and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Venerable Brothers and Beloved Children,

The Synod of bishops of the Syro- Malabar Church held from 22 August to September 3 2005 at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad had requested the Major Archbishop to elucidate the Church’s views, concerns and its stand on education, through a pastoral letter addressed to the community as a whole. The synodal fathers made this request taking into consideration also the directives given by the Major Episcopal Assembly held in November 2004. The recent Supreme Court verdict regarding self-financing professional colleges and the uproar it created in the parliament and the general public also highlighted the importance of the issue. There is also some anxiety regarding the proposed amendment to the Constitution whether it would be an encroachment on the rights of the minorities. Besides, there is the greater awareness of the requirement of social justice to create an infrastructure that will enable poor students acquire good quality higher education. In this context, the Church is called upon to adopt a definite approach and a clear-cut stand in the field of education.

As is evident from the declaration of the Second Vatican Council on Christian Education, the apostolate of education had always been an important topic that claimed the attention of the Church. The Church has always taught that true education aims at the formation of the human person with respect to his ultimate goal. Therefore, education should pave the way to brotherly association with other peoples, so that genuine unity and peace on earth may be promoted (Document of the Second Vatican Council on Christian Education, No. 1). Parents have the most solemn obligation to educate their offspring. It must also be borne in mind that Christian parents have the responsibility to lead their children through the path of the Truth that was revealed in Christ. To fulfil this obligation, parents need the whole-hearted help and support of the society as a whole. As a mother, the Church is bound to give her children the kind of education through which their entire lives can be penetrated with the spirit of Christ. At the same time, she offers her services to all peoples by promoting the full development of the human person, for the welfare of the earthly society and the building up of a world fashioned more humanly. The Council earnestly entreats pastors and the faithful in the Church to spare no sacrifice in helping Catholic schools to achieve their purpose, particularly to show special concern for the needs of those who are poor.

A special consideration for the needs of the poor is a part of the Church’s teaching. The Church should at all levels strive to bring an end to the present situation that often denies opportunities for education to poor students for the sole reason that they are economically backward and ensure that they are provided quality education. Needy children should be provided quality education from the start, because it will help them gain self-respect and enable them to hold their own with their more fortunate companions. There should not be any instance of a deserving student not being able to study in any of our institutions due to financial constraints. For this purpose, generous persons should come forward with their whole-hearted help and support. We cannot forget that the Government also has a serious obligation in this regard. Governments should realise that education is an important factor in development and give their financial backing in this area.

Our schools should not be seen as a means for job-opportunities or for amassing profit. Today, there is an increased awareness in our society about the importance of good education. Many people complain nowadays that there are two kinds of education and educational institutions in our country. Even though education is provided free in government schools and government aided schools, the quality of the education these institutions provide is so pitiably poor that the development of the talents of the students who study there are often stifled. It is the tragedy of this age that the attention of our government and the society is focussed on the teachers and their salary rather than on the students. Irresponsible student politics, the excessive unionist zeal of the teachers and other similar factors brought about a sharp decline of educational standards in schools. As a response to this pitiful state of affairs, private schools offering quality education came up. But they did not offer free education. The result was that while the wealthy and the knowledgeable sent their wards to quality institutions, the children of the poor and of those living in the rural areas came to study in ordinary schools. Besides being a gross injustice to the poor, this created an unhealthy segregation in society.

Therefore, urgent measures are needed to raise the standard of education in Government and Aided Schools. Governments and Managements and teachers should make a untied move to provide better facilities in schools and to improve educational standards. At the same time, those who manage our educational institutions should not permit anything that will amount to a counter-witness to the values of the Gospel. Everyone will admit that in order to maintain the high standard of educational institutions, considerable financial outlay is needed. But the practice of demanding big sums of money for admission of students, appointment of teachers and for the developmental expenses of the institutions cannot be justified at all. The basic thrust of the educational institutions should not be profit motive. If the educational institutions run by the Church have in any manner tarnished her image, this has to be remedied. The community and the parishioners should have the wisdom to discern that when any educational institution suffers a decline in standards, it is the future generation that gets branded as incapable and become marginalized by society. The community should realise that an educational institution can make or break a society. The authorities of educational institutions have a moral duty and obligation to ensure that there is an atmosphere conducive to learning in them and that they employ teachers who are not only good at teaching, but can also develop the character of their students. Teaching profession should not be confined to women only; men should also venture into this field. It is also necessary that the Government generously help students who are poor.

There is a notion that quality education implies a mere acquisition of skills in English and sciences and obtaining high marks in examinations. Education is getting reduced to training in competitiveness that stuffs children with information for the sole purpose of obtaining high grades. An education that lays more importance on academic performance at the cost of developing the individual or character building will result in the creation of smart boys and girls who are bereft of humane qualities. If an individual does not possess a noble mind, his/her abilities can only harm and play havoc with society. The moral education and development of the mind and the intellect are essential ingredients of effective education. A well-trained mind will emerge through the storms of life with a well-developed spiritual character. Educational institutions should not become centres that create egoistic intellectual giants. They should produce individuals who could develop their innate abilities like the talents in Jesus’ parable and transform them as means to serve their brethren. It is here that the others should perceive the witness of Christian education.

Educational institutions are part of the mission of the Church. The history of the Church is a story of dedicated service in the field of education. In fact, the word ‘school’ is itself a contribution of the Church. Traditionally, the first schools in medieval Europe were associated with the cathedrals and monasteries of the Church. In India, the Constitution has granted us minority rights to protect our Faith and a culture consonant with it. So everyone should take care to create a Christian atmosphere in our educational institutions, which will lead to the development of a Christian character in our students.

There are students belonging to different religions studying in our institutions. Our institutions should bear the stamp of responsible citizenship, patriotism and a respect for secular democracy. We are a community that is bearing the brunt of religious fundamentalism. We must take care that nothing happens in our educational institutions that hurts the religious sentiments of people belonging to other religions.

As a pastoral letter to the entire community, this contains only general ideas and directives. Dioceses and religious Congregations should take emergency measures and prepare the necessary action plans to see that its directives are put into practice. When there is a big gap between the teaching and the actual practice, the credibility of the Church suffers. The activities of the Church in the field of education should enhance her image and bear witness to her Gospel mission.

My dear brethren and my dear children

In conclusion, I want to appreciate the selfless and dedicated services of those who are engaged in this apostolate of education and congratulate them sincerely. They are engaged in a ministry whose results go beyond time and space. We should not forget that the ultimate goal of education is character formation. The profound wisdom expressed through the words of St. Paul that “ It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal.2: 20) is the fullness of all knowledge.

Invoking God’s blessing upon you, in the name of + the Father and of + the Son and of + the Holy Spirit.

+Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil

Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church

Given from the Major Archiepiscopal Curia of the Syro-Malabar Church at Mount St Thomas on 8^th November 2005.

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N.B: This pastoral letter is to be read out during the Holy Mass on a Sunday before 27^th November 2005 in all churches and chapels of the Syro-Malabar Church where there is Sunday Mass for the public.