Thai bishops focus on quality education and spiritual formation , goal of Catholic schools
Bangkok
(AsiaNews) - Improving educational standards in Catholic schools to coincide
with international standards while promoting knowledge of the catechism and the
basics of the faith. This is the target set by the Thai Bishops' Conference
during their recent assembly in Pattaya, which concentrated on education and
the contribution offered by Christian run schools. During the three-day seminar
bishops, priests and lay people discussed the quality standards and analyzed
the results obtained from the schools in the field of evangelization and moral
and civic education.
In his address, Msgr . Louis Chamnien Shantisukniran , president of the Thai Bishops'
Conference pointed out that it is the duty of the Catholic Church to help its
most representative institutions to "express their Catholic identity
." The prelate recalled the objectives of the 2010-2015 Pastoral Plan,
according to which schools and educational centres are the focal point "of
proclaiming the Gospel ." It is the duty of educators to be "living
witnesses " of Jesus among students.
Fr. Francis Xavier Deja Arpornrat , executive secretary of the Episcopal
Conference , recalled that Catholic schools aimed at the "integral" development
of the person , so parents had great "confidence" in them. For the future it is
important to "preserve" the identity while "enhancing " the
teaching methods used , in order to obtain highest quality standards . "We
need to renew the methods and reform the system - said the priest - adapting to
changing times ."
The intervention of the
Archbishop of Bangkok , Msgr. Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovinthavanij , was
inspired by the New Evangelization and encounter with the faithful of other
religions. " All the disciples of Christ - said the prelate - are called
to announce and share the Good News" with those who have not encountered the
Gospel with those who do not believe. He invited Catholics to promote
inter-religious dialogue, which is an integral part and "plays a leading
role in the New Evangelization ." Finally, the archbishop highlighted
Gospel values such as morality and virtue, to help students, their culture
and life and which are an essential part of the program of an institution of Christian
inspiration along with technology, new media and respect for the environment.
Catholics are a very small percentage in Thailand, only 0.1 % of a total
population of 66.7 million inhabitants.
But the community is full of vitality and initiative especially in the
social and education sector. The meeting in Pattaya (pictured ) was attended by
400 educators from 10 different dioceses in the country. Statewide ,
there are about 300 Catholic schools , attended by more than half a million
students , of different religious faiths .
.png)
