(August 29, 2009) The Catholic Church in India plans to protest a clause in India’s
new education bill that allows local elected representatives to become part of school
management committees. The clause “will have severe repercussions on aided schools
run by religious and linguistic minority groups all over the country,” says Father
Babu Joseph, spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). He,
however, clarified, that the Church supports the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education Bill, 2008 that aims to give free education to children. Be he expressed
concern over “Clause 21, which makes it clear that all aided schools should constitute
a school management committee consisting of the elected representatives of the local
authority, parents or guardians of children in such schools, and teachers.’” The Catholic
Church runs over 10,000 educational institutions in India. Fr. Joseph argues that
such a committee would cause unnecessary political interference in Church schools
most of which are aided. Father Joseph said the Church will meet other minority groups
and social organizations and will take up the matter with the Human Resources Development
Ministry soon.