| Subject: Pastoral Letter from the two
bishops of TL on national curriculum
PASTORAL NOTE FROM THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF TIMOR-LESTE ABOUT TEACHING
RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The ministry of education of Timor-Leste issued a memorandum to a press
conference which took place on November 19th, 2004, regarding primary
school curriculum. The memo says that "the plan of implementation of
primary school curriculum was approved by the minister council in October
2004 and the programs related to it were approved to be tested in 32
experimental schools, in 13 districts, ranging 1st to 6th grade, from
January 2005 on".
Further on it says: "Religion is an optional subject. Its
timetable will be determined individually by each school, without
prejudice to mandatory subjects (...) Religion won't be accountable for
evaluation nor conditional for grade transition (...) Regarding teaching
staff, they must be qualified enough and accordingly credited by suitable
religious institutions, with no extra cost to national budget (...)".
Recently, the Minister of Education stated further that "We
respect the freedom of belief, bound by the Human Rights [Declaration]
which we signed and acknowledged that this is a freedom, we can't force
someone to follow any religion he/she doesn't believe in, that's wrong
enough, but that doesn't mean it's forbidden, instead it's an option, lots
of people think that optional means forbidden. Optional means that we can
teach any subject, not as a mandatory one, like in indonesian time
(...)" (Semanário, 11-02-05, p.5). Statements from many government
officials have been presented to the public according to STL, 11-02-05,
Timor Post, 10-02-05 and 11-02-05. In 12-02-05, Timor Post published a
story presenting allegations from the Ministry of Education in favor of an
optional [Religion subject]. At the same time, it leaves to schools and
parents the responsability of organizing Religion classes, without
specifying any structural mechanisms.
I. THE RELIGIOUS DIMENSION OF LIFE
Considering the fact that most of the population of Timor-Leste being
catholic by its option, the catholic bishops have the pastoral duty of
addressing christians and presenting to the whole catholic community and
to the public opinion which relevant catholic principles apply to this
matter. The Concillium Vaticanus II says that "Amidst every other
mean of education, school has a special importance because of its mission
which, while attentively cultivating intellectual faculties, develops the
capacity of judging rightfully, introduces [us] to the cultural heritage
left by past generations, promotes the sense of values, prepares to
working life and, creating a friendly relationship between students with
different nature or condition, favours mutual understanding. Besides,
school is like a center and families, teachers, groups who promote
cultural, civic and religious life, civil society and the whole human
community should take part in its functionality and progress (Gravissimum
Educationis 5a). In this context the parents' role is extremely important
because they are guardians of their sons' and daughters' integral good:
"Parents, whose first and inalienable duty and right is to educate
their sons and daughters, must have real freedom to choose any school.
Therefore the public power, responsible for protecting and defending
citizens' freedoms, must assure, following distributive justice, that
public money should be granted in a way that parents may be able to
choose, by their own conscience, with all freedom, in which schools to put
their sons and daughters" (Gravissimum Educationis 6a).
Based on these principles, the role of the State is a service to the
community: "Besides, is part of the public power role to provide that
every citizen may reach a just participation in culture and be prepared to
rightfully exercise their civil rights and duties" (Gravissimum
Educationis 6b). So, the Church reminds the parents that "the
important duty they have of using everything or demanding everything, so
that their sons and daughters may benefit from that aid and progress
harmonically within christian and profane education. Therefore, the Church
praises those civil authorities and societies which, despite pluralism in
modern society and because of fair religious freedom, do help families so
that their sons and daughters' education may happen in every school
according to those families' moral and religious principles" (Gravissimum
Educationis 7b). The Church itself, aware of its most serious duty of
taking care of its sons' and daughters' moral and religious education,
"knows that it must be present with its affection and help to those
who are educated in non-catholic schools: either through the apostolate
action of colleagues, or mostly by the ministry of priests and non-priests
who teach them the doctrine of salvation, adapted to the age and condition
of each one, and help them spiritually according to circumstances" (Gravissimum
Educationis 7a). Public school has a role of educating according to some
values, including the transcendental values of the religious dimension of
life, which children and youngsters are entitled to. Those values are
transmitted through culture, history and faith. This happens in many
religions and cultures. To most East-Timorese, that faith is the Catholic
Faith, which lives peacefully side by side with other religions.
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