support catholic schools
Support for Catholic Schools & Education in Lebanon
The negative growth rate, the collapse of the national currency against the dollar, the blocking exercised by banks on the withdrawal of bank deposits, the inflation rate of over 200%, with a rate of unemployment exceeding 50%, putting more than 60% of the population below the poverty line, has made Catholic schools more and more indebted, bordering on collapse as the tuition collection rate continues to decline and the delinquencies of the last year exceeded 50% of expected income, hence the impossibility of paying teachers' salaries (more than 30% of last year's salaries are unpaid)! A great risk of collapse of private education, which enrolls 68% of learners in Lebanon, looms in the near horizon. Academically, the school rhythm is discontinuous previously because of the pandemic with a very uneven online education, (poor quality of the Internet connection, frequent blackouts, unfinished school programs...), making any academic programming unpredictable. All this manifested itself in a high stress rate due to confinement, anxiety and fear about the economic future and policy as well as the future of private education.
In view of what has just been elucidated, it should be noted that at the level of our three patriarchal schools, the educational policy adopted by the Council of Patriarchal Colleges (CCP), in fidelity to the mission of our Church which aspires to be a meeting place of sharing and living together, has been concretely translated by an inclusive and integral approach where the educational offer of our establishments is given without any discrimination, to Christians (65%) and Muslims (35%). Likewise, despite the negative impact of the economic crisis on the purchasing power of families (the rate of unpaid schooling goes from 5% in 2017 to 17% in 2019 with an average schooling of $2,800 in 2017 to 200% in 2021! ) the solidarity commitment of our Schools is manifested by a considerable increase in scholarships granted to needy families (from 26% in 2017 to 46% in 2020).
Obviously, it would be naïve to believe that such a policy in the current economic situation could be based solely on the internal financial resources of our establishments! Moreover, statistics from the General Secretariat of Catholic Schools in Lebanon (SGEC) show that more than 40% of the school fees of the past year were not received, that more than 30% of the salaries of teachers and non-teaching staff have not been paid and that less than 30% of schools have been able to use their resources while having recourse to their strategic reserves and within a few months, if a comprehensive and resolute policy of political and social economic recovery, level of the Lebanese state is not implemented, the sustainability of Catholic schools is strongly threatened; hence the need for urgent and far-reaching action in order to face the existential crisis from which the country and especially our schools are suffering.
We have 1159 students in our three patriarchal schools. In the 2020-2021 school year, costs increased to meet the needs of distanced education. Incomes have also declined because of the economic situation that the country is going through. This left our schools with a deficit of $452,771 which the Patriarchate had to ensure to maintain the school year.
The current year, 2021-2022, began with challenges even more serious than those of 2020-2021. This year, the Patriarchate will fail to cover the budget deficit because its resources have reached a critical point. The Patriarchate needs exceptional assistance for the year 2021-2022, in the amount of $452,771 in order to be able to support the 636 families whose 1159 children are registered in our schools. It has been proven through the ages that only Catholic education is the guarantor of this message of peace and living together that it spreads from generation to generation to make its educational act a platform for the values of humanism and of prosperity. This prophetic presence encourages us to bear witness to the essential which is Christ. Call me at 416-893 8060 Or email: knightsofcolumbus@hotmail.com
The current year, 2021-2022, began with challenges even more serious than those of 2020-2021. This year, the Patriarchate will fail to cover the budget deficit because its resources have reached a critical point. The Patriarchate needs exceptional assistance for the year 2021-2022, in the amount of $452,771 in order to be able to support the 636 families whose 1159 children are registered in our schools. It has been proven through the ages that only Catholic education is the guarantor of this message of peace and living together that it spreads from generation to generation to make its educational act a platform for the values of humanism and of prosperity. This prophetic presence encourages us to bear witness to the essential which is Christ. Call me at 416-893 8060 Or email: knightsofcolumbus@hotmail.com
COLLEGE ST. SAUVEUR, JOUN, CHOUF, LEBANON
مدرسة دير المخلص الثانوية
Listen to video from the principal Reverend Faris introducing the school:
Donate to: Knights of Columbus Ontario Charity Foundation, write in the memo part, Catholic Education Lebanon. Mention your address and email (Tax receipts will be issued).
Send your cheques by post to this address: Ontario Christian Refugee Relief Director, 6428 Yonge Street, Centerpoint 37150, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4J8.
Send your cheques by post to this address: Ontario Christian Refugee Relief Director, 6428 Yonge Street, Centerpoint 37150, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4J8.