Leaders of church-run schools urge education ministry to rethink its approach to them

With clear signs of a strain in the relationship between the operators of church-run schools and the Ministry of Education, members of the Ecumenical Education Committee, who attended a Gleaner Editors' Forum last week, were asked:

What would you want the minister of education or the Government to do, to assist in reinvigorating the partnership between the State and church schools?

Paul Miller, vice-chairman of United Church's Education Commission.

"Engage in the discussion, in the debate on the future of education and the requirements for that through partnerships."

Professor Errol Miller, Professor Emeritus of Education - the University of the West Indies.

"I would say to conduct an internal analysis, as if they have the legal basis to do what they are trying to do."

Archbishop Donald Reece, chairman - Ecumenical Education Committee.

"For both parties involved in this partnership thing to be honest and humble, as we chart the way forward for a better educational system, which is crucial to Jamaica."

Anton Thompson, chairman - Campion College.

"I would want to support the notion of dialogue, but I'd also want there to be some public involvement in the discussion that would take place."

Grace Baston, principal - Campion College.

"Revisit the spirit, go back to what was the spirit of that original partnership and let us engage in a conversation about what that relationship must look like in the 21st century."

Peter Espeut, chairman - Donnington and St Benedict's primary schools.

"I think that it's time to for the actual raison d'Ítre for schools to be looked at, especially the government schools."