Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San Jose (Agenzia Fides) - “Quality education for all,” is the title of the Message issued by the Costa Rican Bishops’ Conference, at the start of the 2008 academic year. In the Message, the Bishops insist that the work of education should guarantee an integral formation of the human person and that it should be a quality education.
The Bishops point out some of the main challenges in the area of education, in light of the current economic and social situation of the country and the world, globalisation, and the scientific-technological culture. The Message, first of all, states that the educational structure, “should have as its principal goal, the effective contribution to integral human development.” However, the educational plan for Costa Rica, in light of the new socio-political and economic situation should try to meet “the demands of a globalised socio-economic structure of production and consumption, which leads to only a partial development of the individual.” Education should also meet the demands of the computer era according to the scientific-technological culture, however without thereby renouncing “the Costa Rican identity with a tradition of democracy and Christianity.” In the face of secularisation and indifference, “that is negatively effecting the person and society in all its dimensions, the need presents itself for an ethical and religious education, according to the model and teachings of Christ the Teacher.”
Confronted with these challenges, and considering the importance of the task of education looking towards the future, the Bishops see that “it is necessary that we renew our commitment to the task of education, each within his own means.” Thus, they promise to “promote and preserve the pastoral work in education within each diocese,” working towards a culture of life from within the education environment, “encouraging attitudes and values of respect, peace, and love and eliminating attitudes of exclusion, aggression, violence, and death.”
The Costa Rican Bishops also ask that educators, “assume with complete responsibility, dedication, and effort, the opportunities given to them by the State, the family, and the community in order to guarantee an integral and quality education.” To the priests, they ask that they “promote and organise the educational pastoral ministry in their parishes,...recognise and value the noble mission of educators and encouraging them in their Christian commitments,... and that they spiritually attend to all centres for education.” To those who work in religious education, the Bishops ask that they “assume their mission of being authentic evangelisers by word and testimony.” To the school teachers, while reminding them of the great value of their vocation, the Bishops ask that they continue in this mission with dedication and effort, “in spite of the sacrifices that come with being a teacher.” To the authorities in the educational field, they remind them of their “delicate and transcendental mission of guiding the educational process of all the citizens” and ask that they do so according to “an ethic of social justice, thinking of the most marginalised and excluded areas.” To parents, they insist that they “realise that no one can substitute them as the primary educators of their children. Therefore, they should not renounce this mission, especially in this day and age.”
Concluding, the Bishops invite all the faithful laity “to offer their most generous collaboration in recovering and promoting our most appreciated social, moral, and religious values, these fruits that allow us to enjoy peace and security, with the goal of reaching an integral development in our time.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 15/2/2008 righe 46, parole 572)
