Clergyman blames Education Ministry for discord with church schools

By Kimone Witter    

 

Archbishop of the West Indies and Bishop of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands, Reverend Dr. Howard Gregory, has strongly criticised the Ministry of Education for creating ongoing discord between the ministry and church-operated schools.

 

Archbishop Gregory has accused the ministry of over-reaching in its management of the institutions, adding that the relationship no longer represents a partnership.

 

A third or more of all Jamaican schools, at all levels, are owned or sponsored by eleven Christian denominations and a few trusts.

 

Addressing a Founder's Day service at St. Mark's Anglican Church in Mandeville this week, the Archbishop said the church did not enter the education sector through the back door, but it was the government that was the late-comer to education in Jamaica.

 

In a subsequent interview with Radio Jamaica News, Archbishop Gregory explained that the problem started with the Ministry of Education redefining schools as public institutions, contrary to the agreement with churches and trusts for the government to mainly provide financial assistance. 

 

"That has given them certain claim. For example, if the PTA, for example, raises funds for putting up a classroom, the government is suggesting that all funds coming into schools, they have a measure of control and regulation over that. I was in one of the high schools this week and learned the government insists whatever comes in through the canteen of a school has to be seen as under the control of government. How did we ever get there?" he questioned. 

 

Archbishop Gregory said issues relating to devotions, deportment, school fees are other sticking points for the educational institutions. 

 

"How did the government get from regulating education to telling us what must happen in devotion and the kind of context in which devotions can take place? That is what we regarded as an overreach and when issues come up, the main one, for example, has to do with fees, the contribution of parents to the school system because the government, for example, says that, oh parents don't have to contribute anything but we are supposed to provide certain services which they don't provide. So some of the schools right now are struggling."

 

He expressed disappointment that the head of churches and trusts have to oftentimes seek out the information on Ministry of Education policies rather than being included in the discussions. 

 

"If we are going to have a partnership, there needs to be dialogue constantly, not after the fact in relation to the direction that education takes," he demanded.