Dear Editor,
Recent articles in the press question whether present and past governments ever took secular aspects of education seriously, since allegations persist that practices in some schools continue to favour some religions over others, even though this violates the fundamental principle of neutrality enshrined in the Constitution.
The recent fiasco of the missionary from USA granted access to students in several schools in Guyana has resulted in the Ministry of Education researching the background of the hate-monger and reporting that this illegality was not sanctioned by the government. However, it took three weeks to investigate and reach this conclusion when a private individual can do it in a few minutes by researching the internet. Thus, there is need for both private and public institutions in all fields, including education.
One positive feature of the experience was that it saw a rare display of unity of over 100 temples, some of which are run by younger educated priests who are otherwise employed and do not rely only on the generosity of devotees or the favours of politicians.
A few are becoming more active in social issues like religious conversion, domestic violence, abuse of alcohol and drugs, and are not limiting their activities to celebrations and rituals. They are internet savvy, write books and even organise seminars. History has taught them that their religion must be separated from their political affiliations.
They are wary of those who would like to convert religious functions to political meetings, but would not speak up for their interests in or outside the legislature. They are also connected with overseas friends who continue to learn about and promote the values of one of the most ancient cultures in the world.
The Diaspora has always been asked to return home, invest in, and develop the nation. However, the appeal seems limited to business and industry but rarely, if ever, to investing in private learning institutions, some of which make a handsome profit ever since private lessons became part of the culture. If education is so fundamental to the development of the individual and consequently, to the nation, it is difficult to fathom the reasons for taxing all private schools if only a few do not comply with the law. The justification for VAT on private educational bodies is in part supported by the perception that all are making profit and that the students come from wealthy families. The actions of the president himself, in praising Saraswati Vidya Niketan, the private Hindu school at WCD as a model school, and then contributing each year from what must be public funds to that school, lends credence to the fact that this not-for-profit cultural beacon is contributing to the nation and needs continuing support. Both local and overseas support has built and contributed to the school by way of scholarships to needy students and prizes to those who excelled. Foreign remittances from relatives also form part of the overseas support for some students. Supporters in New York, Toronto, and other North American cities are always organising fund-raising events to complete the science building which will hopefully produce graduates who will make a significant contribution to the society.
Statistics have shown that more former residents live abroad than locally, and while those many overseas may have little interest in local politics and development they may still practise their religion wherever they live and do have an interest in ensuring that their culture is respected worldwide. It would be ill advised for any government not to take seriously the rights of any religion that is denigrated in or outside public institutions. Lip service to laws will not satisfy them. Religion is still a great motive force globally. The government which does not take it seriously will encourage another source of discontent, which can only result in further divisions in an already fractured society. Attempts by social cohesion programmes to heal can only be done by demonstrating mutual respect for all. Fortunately, mankind can still find guidance in the lives and teachings of icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu, all of whom confronted social and political injustice while bringing people together. If this can be done, even only on their birthdays for a start, the morality of the nation will be enhanced.
It is respectfully suggested that the Ministry of Education use the media and other sources to let every teacher, parent and student know the policy on religion in schools by summarizing the circular it sent out following this exhibition of hate, envy and ignorance to innocent minds. It should also inform them of the process of monitoring and complaint, so that parents and students can be assured that the incidents referred to above will not be repeated. Clearly sending circulars to teachers alone was not sufficient. Furthermore, even those with the best of intentions can cause harm in ways that they cannot comprehend. In this regard one has to wonder if the hundreds of students who were exposed to this venom have received any counselling or appropriate services from the government to ensure that the harm is not permanent.
Yours faithfully,
Ramarine Sahadeo
Canada