Bishops demand ‘special treatment’

CATHOLIC bishops have opened almost 30 primary schools in the past decade, but appear to be seeking preferential treatment over other patrons when schools are required in growingareas.

The demand has been made apparently in return for the bishops’ willingness to hand over control of some of its schools in areas where there is little other choice for parents and where no new schools are likely to be sanctioned in the next six years or so. The Episcopal Commission for Education, representing Catholic bishops, who are patrons to 91% of the country’s 3,165 primary schools, is reported to have made the appeal in a submission to a group set up by the Department of Education last year to review the criteria for establishing primary schools.

“It is expected that the preparedness of the Catholic Church to consider transferring ownership in certain circumstances is something which will merit favourable consideration in applications for recognition of new Catholic schools. This would be a reciprocation of goodwill,” it said.