By Dr Debra Sayce, Executive Director, Catholic Education Western Australia
“May we be sustained by the conviction that education bears within itself a seed of hope: the hope of peace and justice; the hope of beauty and goodness, the hope of social harmony.”
— Pope Francis
At a time when all of humanity have been called to unite in a common cause, our Catholic school communities have witnessed the tremendous resilience and creativity of the human spirit and the significance of purposeful mission and service.
Staff in our 163 schools across the state have played a vital role in enabling children and young people to remain engaged in their learning, while the collective strength of community has seen parents, teachers and students supporting one another through the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has created.
Our schools have been forever changed by this pandemic, as have the communities we serve. However, it has underscored how relevant our Gospel values are, and just how important it is that our schools are Christ-centred and child-focused learning communities.
The events of this year have offered us new perspectives on education and have affirmed for us that the role of teachers – and indeed all staff who have taken up a vocation in education – is more vital now than ever.
During a video message at the launch of the Global Compact on Education in Rome in October, Pope Francis expressed that education is one of the most effective ways of making our world and history more human.
“Education is above all a matter of love and responsibility handed down from one generation to another,” he said.
“Amid the present crisis – and the poverty and confusion it has caused – we believe that it is time to subscribe to a global pact on education for and with future generations,” the Pope said.
In calling for an education that promoted the hope and harmony that the world needs, he added: “This calls for a commitment on the part of families, communities, schools, universities, religions, governments, and the entire human family to the training of mature men and women.”
The goal, he said, “is to ensure everyone has access to a quality education consonant with the dignity of the human person.”
In reflecting on the pivotal role of education in society, 2020 has perhaps been a moment of truth. It resulted in all schools – government and non-government – working together to respond to the risks and impact of COVID-19. In Catholic education it has meant that one in five school students in Western Australia has had the certainty that they can continue to learn, the opportunities to keep growing through co-curricular activities, and the ability to retain a sense of belonging.
Considering what we know now about the social and emotional impacts of COVID-19 amongst children and young people, the significance of being part of a supportive and nurturing school community throughout this disruptive time can never be overstated.
Unlike the ‘change mantra’ for 2020, one thing that has not waivered this year is the sheer commitment of staff in schools and offices around our state. In our context, we can stand proud today knowing that Catholic school students have benefited from the collective dedication of Catholic education staff, who have worked with professionalism, enthusiasm and adaptability to make sure students have not only been supported and prepared to engage in their learning – regardless of whether this was at home or in the classroom – but have also benefited from the pastoral care and healthy parent/school relationships that Catholic schools are recognised for. Essentially, the intrinsic and shared sense of purpose that ensures that every child in a Catholic school counts.
In a world where education has the potential to alter the course of our future, equitable access to education – regardless of a child’s needs or their parent’s personal circumstances – is more vital now than ever.
Responding to the needs and challenges of the time is something we’re all familiar with in Catholic education. When we look back to the beginning of Catholic education in our state, our foundations were shaped – literally – by parents working alongside our founding religious sisters and brothers who dedicated their lives to ensuring every child had fair access to an education.
Next year will be a year to remember and celebrate these foundations.
World Teachers’ Day this year marked the beginning of the National Catholic Education Commission’s year-long celebration to mark 200 years since the first Catholic school opened in Australia. And, for Catholic Education in Western Australia, 2021 will honour 50 years since Catholic schools in our state’s four dioceses came together for the first time under the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia to form Catholic Education Western Australia.
So, while this year has confronted us and challenged us, our approach has been consistent with who we are; and indeed goes to the core of the mission we were founded on. The principle underlying this – that our decisions must be Christ-centred and child-focused – has held us in good stead.
It has been inspiring this year to see Catholic schools giving witness to our mission in extraordinary ways. It is now essential that we bring forward the best ideas and innovations to support new and more effective strategies in our schools. It is also essential that all sectors of education continue to work together, with the support of our State and Federal government, to develop education plans that as Pope Francis stated ,“put the economy and politics at the service of the human person.”
From pages 16 to 17 of Issue 27: Community of The Record Magazine