CASPA
Catholic schools in South Africa are owned either by local bishops or religious congregations. After 1994 it was necessary for these owners to form negotiating teams to meet with the government to ensure that Catholic schools designated as state-aided under the old government were covered in the new education act. National and provincial teams were formed and from these the Catholic Schools Proprietors Association (CaSPA) was established.
Objectives of CaSPA
The Catholic Schools Proprietors Association shall promote amongst its members, a continued commitment to the ideals of Catholic education and to that end shall:
- Operate as a community serving humanity, ensuring greater democracy through communication, striving for justice and promoting the dignity of the person in society;
- Integrate faith and life as a life-long process in which children are taught to live responsibly in a community with others;
- Take account of new and developing educational insights and collaborate for this purpose with public schools and with others, irrespective of religious allegiance;
- Offer itself to all, including those of other faiths, who desire to share its distinctive values, aims and means.
CaSPA meet biennially to set direction and plan for Catholic education in South Africa. The executive of CaSPA is elected at this meeting. The executive consists of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson and provincial representatives. Sr Kathy Gaylor OP is the current chairperson and Bishop Kevin Downling vice-chair.
The CIE acts as the secretariat for National CaSPA. In order to sustain Catholic schools and to ensure that their ethos is maintained and developed, the owners have formed regional Catholic Schools Boards (CSBs).
Related publications:
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All God’s Children: Care, concern, and challenge for Catholic Education – To Parents, School Governing Bodies and Boards of Governors, Principals, Teachers and all who work in Catholic schools.
