AMERICA/BOLIVIA - The beginning of the school year at the educational centers of the Church is at risk if the government does not sign specific agreements

Cochabamba (Agenzia Fides) - The delay in the signing of specific agreements between the government and the Catholic Church threatens the start of the educational centers’ activities in 2012. The documents of cooperation in health and social services have not yet even been signed. The Church has been waiting the signing for two years, said the Archbishop of Cochabamba and Vice President of the Commission for Public Education of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference (BEC), Mgr.Tito Solari, who pointed out that teachers, headmasters and religious institutions need a legal visa, "otherwise schools cannot work".
Although the document in the field of public education is the most troubled, even though it may be signed in the coming weeks, Mgr.Solari said that without the document, educational centers cannot start the activities for the new school year.
At the opening of the last Assembly of the Episcopal Conference of Bolivia held in Cochabamba last week, Cardinal Julio Terrazas, taking into account the results of the National Congress of the educational work of the Church, which underlined its educational mission, has asked the government authorities responsible for public education to respect the commitment agreed and to sign the agreement on education with the BEC. The Cardinal also noted that others are awaiting signing sectoral agreements on social assistance, health care and prisons, "where the most needy groups benefit from".
From the information gathered by Fides it can be seen that the Catholic Church runs 1500 educational centers, 600 health centers, 300 social protection centers and others in various fields, according to the data of the Episcopal Conference. Mgr. Solari recalled that the arrangement should assure the Church so that its educational institutions respond to their own identity and philosophical, moral and pedagogical vision.
For the Church not being able to train religion teachers continues to be a serious concern because it prevents the Avelino Siñani- Elizardo Pérez law (see Fides 24/11/2010 and 21/12/2010) law. Another key element of the arrangement is the Church's right to appoint religion teachers in educational centers where parents demand that the Catholic religion is taught. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 22/11/2011)