The Catholic Education Office in Fiji is now lobbying for Catholic schools and parents to write to the Constitution Commission to have Catholics as heads of their schools.

This follows the rejection of their proposal by Public Service Commission (PSC) permanent secretary Parmesh Chand.

Director of Catholic Education Remesio Rogovakalali said a delegation met with Chand late last month, however, according to Rogovakalali, Chand categorically stated that no consultation will be held in relation to the appointment of the Head-Teachers and Principals of Catholic schools.

He said their submission was to ensure that Catholic schools are headed by Head-Teachers and Principals who belong to the Catholic faith to safeguard the Catholic character of Catholic schools.

Rogovakalali said in July 2008, PSC made a decision that the Education Ministry should not be swayed by the decision of the school management boards and neither should it entertain any resistance from the school when appointing heads of schools.

He said following the decision, the Education Ministry no longer honored the long standing consultation process and appointed head teachers and principals to schools irrespective of whether or not they belonged to the faith of the community that established and manage the school.

PSC has stressed the need to ensure that the most meritorious person for the post be appointed.

Rogovakalali said the issue of religion is very much part of a multicultural society, contrary to PSC’s claims that it is not a relevant issue in the matter of merit.

He said for Catholics, religion is not a private affair, but a part of a cultural inheritance and identity.

He goes on to say that the environment of a Catholic school is what contributes to the identity of the members of the Catholic community.

Rogovakalali said while they respect other cultures and faiths, they feel that grave injustice is done when a head teacher who does not practice the faith of the community is imposed upon the school community.

In the Catholic education system, there are 63 educational institutions - 44 primary, 17 secondary, 1 teachers training college and 1 vocational institute.

When contacted this afternoon, Rogovakalali said they are now continuing to lobby for people to make submissions to the Constitution Commission after PSC rejected their proposal.

Parmesh Chand is currently out of the country and is expected back in the country next week.


Story by: Vijay Narayan