Scottish Catholic Observer

WITH the same predictability as the changing of the seasons, the Scottish media is having its annual conniption over the existence of Catholic schools. The secularists are given countless front-page stories to express their outrage at the existence of religious observance, BBC presenters furrowing their brows in horror over Catholic schools asking parents to show baptism certificates and the usual suspects trot out the usual list of evils that Catholic schools are apparently to blame for.

There’s nothing new about it and the stooshie will die down as it always does because anyone who knows anything about education knows that Scotland needs Catholic schools.

Catholic education isn’t a token tossed off to appease a minority group. It’s the Church’s gift to Scotland. Catholic schools are better than their non-denominational counterparts. A study of two recent years of HMI reports found that 40 per cent of ratings for Catholic secondary schools were ‘very good’ compared with 26 per cent in the non-denominational sector. This is despite the fact that many of those Catholic schools are in some of the most deprived areas of Scotland.

The facts are the facts. Catholic schools help poor kids. Many of them are Catholic, but increasingly many are not. Our doors are open to all. As has always been the case, smart parents of all Faiths and none recognise the value of a Catholic education.

This should not be surprising. The Church has more than a millennia of experience in education; the formation of young minds has always been a key part of its mission. So much experience gets results. This is the case worldwide. In India, the Catholic Church provides 25 per cent of the primary education, despite Catholics being two per cent of the population. There is a recognition that Catholic education is an invaluable tool in creating a well educated, well balanced population.

But to do that it has to remain Catholic education, it can’t be watered down. For Catholic schools to work they have to be dedicated to the essential truths of the Faith. There is always room for improvement. Our schools can always be better and the Scottish Catholic Education Service is doing a fine job forcing schools to confront some of their shortcomings.

But this is true of every school, so it was very encouraging to hear Education Minister John Swinney’s backing of Catholic education at the CHAPS conference last week. He sends his children to a Catholic school. He knows first-hand how good they are. He and other political leaders recognise that Scotland needs Catholic education. The only question is when will the rest of the country catch up.