THE Catholic Leader (2/10/05) published an article titled, “Decline tipped in school enrolments”, about expected enrolments and future growth in Australian schools, projecting that the Catholic and state sectors would remain the same while the independent school sector would grow.
This kind of research should be closely scrutinised.
The Catholic – active or otherwise – proportion of Australia’s population is still the most substantial and has maintained its steady presence at between 19 and 23 per cent of the population.
While Australia’s birth rate, like that of other OECD countries, is declining, it cannot logically be a consequence of such a thing if other independent school enrolments are on the rise.
Put simply, what’s happening is the result of a school funding policy that favours independent schools over state and Catholic schools, and which ensures that only half the Catholic population – generally those who can afford fees – have access to a Catholic education.
There are profound and disturbing ecclesiological consequences in this, in terms of the role of Catholic schools in evangelisation and serving the common good, which are the twin foundation principles of Catholic schooling.
DR MICHAEL FURTADO
Toowoomba, Qld
