AMERICA/BOLIVIA - The law on education must be applied without discrimination

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Cochabamba (Agenzia Fides) - The State gives priority attention to public schools and discriminates against "private" schools: the complaint comes from Archbishop Emeritus of Cochabamba, His Exc. Mgr. Tito Solari. According to the note sent to Agenzia Fides from local sources, Mgr. Solari explained that the Constitution of the State and the New Law on Public Education 070 respect the right of parents on choosing the type of education they want for their children, but sometimes the choice is influenced by the attitude of the government, which discriminates against educational institutions run by the Church through religious congregations or cooperatives.
"Parents are free to choose, but such choice may be conditioned when these institutions do not enjoy the same conditions of public schools - said Mgr. Solari -. 'Private' schools do not have any support from the municipality with regards to infrastructure, services and materials. When the Ministry distributes material for public schools, it should also offer it to other schools, so they are not discriminated against".
The Archbishop pointed out that the practical implementation of the reform of the education system should be based on justice, equality, service, "and there should be no discrimination among students and teeneagers, or between a school and another".
Bolivia is making a historic change with regard to public education in the country (see Fides 24/11/2010, 10/12/2010, 21/12/2010, 22/11/2011). Many schools are run by the Church (324 kindergartens, 879 primary schools, 365 secondary schools), only those of "Fe y Alegria" (Jesuits) are more than 400.
Bolivia changed its constitution in 2009, and with it the Law on Public Education. In 2010, important agreements were made on the management of schools in respect of their nature, now they are gradually being applied throughout the country. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 11/11/2014)


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