The parents of students at Colégio Dom Diogo de Sousa, in Braga, are promoting, on Saturday, a silent vigil to express their “concern” with the announced changes to the educational and organizational system at that educational establishment, it was announced this Thursday.
In a statement, parents say that an online petition is also underway, addressed to the Archbishop of Braga, José Cordeiro, who demands the maintenance of the current system.
In the petition, which has already gathered more than 900 signatures, the parents highlight the need to understand the reasons behind “such an abrupt change in a reference institution, which has fulfilled its mission with excellence over the years” and, therefore, they want a meeting with José Cordeiro “as a matter of urgency”.
On Monday, the archdiocese of Braga revealed, in a statement, that it is implementing a “reorganization process” of its institutions, including Colégio Dom Diogo de Sousa.
“With this change, the aim is, through transparency and co-responsibility, to promote good management of the resources available to our collegiate”, says the note.
The archdiocese emphasizes that it was always its intention to make this change “in complete serenity”, involving the entire community, from management, teachers, employees, students and parents.
“Continuing 75 years of an educational project of excellence, the archdiocese guarantees the normal functioning of the school, with a cohesive and committed educational body, and is already preparing a serene transition to ensure the continuity of the pedagogical projects and values that characterize us “, the statement also reads.
According to the archdiocese, the current management of the collegiate “has expressed unavailability to be part of this change”, which is why the new management team will soon be announced, “committing to maintaining the standard of quality and dedication that have distinguished the collegiate throughout its history”.
On Sunday, the current director of the school, Cândido Azevedo de Sá, had already sent a letter to those in charge of education stating the archdiocese’s intention to change, from January 6th, the organization and functioning structure of the educational establishment.
According to Cândido Sá, the idea will be to use the public school organizational and operating model in a private Catholic school.
“The pedagogical director and the administrative director would constitute the executive committee, along the lines and as typified for public schools. These two managers would have great responsibilities, but would see their powers emptied, being reduced to the role of mere puppets”, he wrote, in the letter addressed to those in charge of education.
Therefore, he expressed his unavailability to occupy any position in the new management structure of the school.
Parents and guardians report that they fear the stability necessary for the good continuity of the school year, therefore rejecting the implementation of changes to the rules “in the middle of the game”.
They also require full knowledge of the changes to be implemented, “with the necessary consideration time to realize their impact”.
“We are a school with almost 2,200 students, whose rigor, discipline, quality, dedication, comprehensive training of women and men citizens (and Christians) have been maintained over the years, with high effort and competence from its entire teaching staff and students, guided effectively with the arrival of the pedagogical director Father Cândido Azevedo de Sá and the administrative director Antônio de Barros Araújo”, they conclude.
Source: www.cmjornal.pt
