The Forum for Minority Schools from Delhi along with some similar institutions met the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) General Secretary Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, as part of efforts to create a joint platform to exchange ideas and concerns relating to minority education institutions.
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The meeting at the CBCI Headquarters on Saturday comes on the heels of ongoing legal matters regarding refund of fees as well as statements and orders by Delhi's education department, policy matters regulating admission and staff administration and other concerns affecting constitutional freedoms and protections provided to such institutions.
Proposals for a Minority Board of Education like that of the ICSE or CBCE were also mooted at the meeting, which was represented by Christian (Catholic and Protestant), Sikh and Jain schools.
This meeting is another attempt of the CBCI to engage civil society and like-minded citizens in facing various challenges across the country.
In his opening remarks, Bishop Mascarenhas reminded the gathering that the meeting was an apolitical gathering to find ways and means to improve vigilance and to be watchful when rights are being pruned and clipped. "We must have our consciences clear and really work for society, but at the same time we must also assure that our minority rights are protected," he said.
Bishop Mascarenhas assured the gathering that this was just a preliminary meeting, and several more larger consultations with many more schools participating would soon take place to ensure the protection of rights of minority institutions.
Chairman of the Forum for Minority Schools Dr V K Williams recounted the many positive contributions of Christian schools in nation building over the past two hundred years.
He highlighted how the previous draft of the HRD National Education Policy was flawed in its concept and design, describing it as highly retrograde and said its implementation would have damaged the educational fabric of the nation.
Fr Joseph Manipadam SDB shared some silent changes being introduced into education in different states, cautioning all present that what may appear to affect one kind of educational set up, would soon affect others.
He cited the example of NEET for medical colleges, observing such control may happen to engineering colleges as well.
