The Catholic Education Commission of WA releases its annual report.
By Robert Hiini
The Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia (CECWA) has released its annual report for 2008 chronicling the actions and achievements of Catholic Education in WA last year.
The report details the Catholic education sector’s involvement in World Youth Day and lists among the year’s highlights the development and launch of the Leadership Framework for Catholic Education, the implementation of its 2008-2012 strategic plan and its 2008 – 2011 evangelisation plan and the introduction of early childhood initiatives for its inaugural intake of three-year-olds (126 CEO schools in WA had kindergarten classes last year).
In 2008 there were 4624 kindergarten students, 4699 pre-primary students, 31,967 primary school students and 27 582, secondary school students across CEOWA’s 158 schools.
The Catholic education sector employed 9806 people with 4199 full-time equivalent teachers who, the report says, were awarded the same salary increases as teachers in public schools with a focus on ensuring that teaching in Catholic schools remains attractive.
According to the report, about 900 long service leave claims were processed while Theological courses for accreditation to work in Catholic schools netted 2185 participants throughout WA.
Catholic schools in WA received $583.4 million dollars in recurrent income in 2007, the most recent year of available data when the report was prepared. Of that, $440.9 million came from State and Federal Governments and $106.9 million from tuition fees or $1635 per pupil. Total recurrent expenditure in the same year was $553.7 million, with $76.8 million being spent on capital expenditure.
In 2008, the Catholic sector received, amongst other monies, $6.39 million in Australian Government Capital Grants, $7.08 million in the Investing in Our Schools program, and $27.35 million in State Government Low Interest Loans.
Payments of $285.5 million were made for salaries, with an additional $7 million being made in casual relief salary payments.
In the report’s opening remarks, Commission Chair, Monsignor Michael Keating describes Catholic schools as being ‘a vital part of the Church’s efforts to make Jesus better known, loved and followed’ adding that, throughout his years of involvement, the Catholic education system has gone ‘from strength to strength.’
Ron Dullard, Director of the Catholic Education Office of WA (CEOWA), in his remarks, says that the esteem in which the Catholic system is held is a source of pride for the CEOWA.
‘This esteem grows out of evidence not only of academic excellence but students who are compassionate, caring individuals with a commitment to their faith and to responsible citizenship,’ Mr Dullard writes.
According to the report, the CEOWA’s Evangelisation Plan provided opportunities last year for staff to participate in Christian meditation, fundraising events and a retreat at New Norcia as well as Special Minister of the Eucharist and Senior Altar Server training.
The CECWA has up to 17 members, as appointed from groups involved in Catholic education by WA’s bishops, and six standing committees dealing with Aboriginal education, finance, religious education, personnel, resourcing and relevant issues impacting on children in Catholic schools.
CECWA’s policy decisions are implemented by the CEOWA in Perth and its regional offices in Broome, Bunbury and Geraldton. The CEO negotiates arrangements with governments and administers government-funded programs.
The 2008 annual report and strategic planning documents can be found at the Catholic Education Office’s website –
www.ceo.wa.edu.au