Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santiago de Compostela (Fides Service) - During the 17th Meeting of OIEC, International Organisation for Catholic Education 21 to 25 May in Santiago de Compostela, in Spain participants listened to reports from the five OIEC regions Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Middle East. (see Fides 22/5/2007)
In his report regional secretary for Africa Fr. Théodore Diouf, said the future was promising thanks to the continuity and development of formation seminars in Kinshasa and in Dakar, with significant implications for Catholic led education to peace in Africa, to prepare the young generations of future citizens.
Regional secretary America, Fr. Ramón Rivas, spoke of lights and shadows in education in this region which however has maintained its dynamism "despite political and social circumstances which increasingly condition situations in some countries". Activity has focussed on three main areas for a three year period: the family, inclusive education, and on-going training for teachers and communion among institutions.
Regional secretary for Asia, Brother Leo Visith Srivichairatana, said the intention in the next few years is to intensify education to peace, especially among marginalised groups and also environment education. With regard to education to peace, there are plans for an student exchange programme with various Hindu provinces and possibly with other countries so pupils learn to respect persons of different cultures, religions and ethnic origin.
With regard to Europe, regional secretary, M. Etienne Verhack, mentioned three priorities for the European Committee: defend the interests of Catholic schools in European instances; guarantee contact with the bishop delegate for Catholic education in the various different countries; enhance the Catholic identity of t schools with special attention for school directors: promote initial and ongoing formation for headmasters leaders in a project of Catholic education, with responsibility as pastoral animators of centres of education.
In the final statement the following commitments emerged: intensify collaboration among the regions and in the regions; urge members to take an opportune position with regard to realities which inevitably condition the proclamation of the Gospel, such as problems connected with social injustice, hunger, violence, loss of respect for values; in the face of new philosophical and religious trends help Catholic schools give new impulse to their identity and to their mission to evangelise youth, particularly youth in difficulty; intensify initial and ongoing formation for teachers and other school staff, especially lay personnel through more contact and collaboration with universities and greater use of new technology; finally the participants at the OICE general assembly expressed solidarity with Lebanon. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 26/5/2007; righe 35, parole 458)
