Feeling targeted by the Prime Minister’s remarks on the banning of the veil in so-called « foreign » schools, the National Council of the Laity (CNL) sought to re-establish the truth. In a document, this organization of the Catholic Church denounced Ousmane Sonko’s determination « to stigmatize private Catholic education

Are we heading towards a school opening of clashes? The Prime Minister’s statement during the back-to-school inter-ministerial meeting held last Thursday concerning the internal regulations of certain private schools, which he considers to be « foreign », did not please the National Council of the Laity (CNL). This organization, which comes under the Catholic Church, regretted, in a document published this Saturday, « the persistence in the error of the head of government to consider private Catholic schools as ‘foreign schools’ ».  The document signed by Dr Philippe Abraham Birane Tine, denounced « this determination to stigmatize private Catholic education ».

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According to Dr. Tine, it is « foreign to the cultural values ​​that cement and sediment the Senegalese exception made of pluralities living in harmony. » Addressing Ousmane Sonko, the National Council of the Laity invites him as « head of government to show more respect and consideration for private Catholic education based on evangelical values. » For those responsible for this structure, « the threats are ineffective. » And warned: « The Church knows no fear. It walks in Truth, Justice and Peace. The Church is republican and, in matters of education and training, it’s action is based on the Constitution. Its commitment in this regard cannot be undermined by an order. » « In the face of the serious and urgent challenges of the hour, the CNL urges the government to henceforth only use the verb of action for the well-being of the Senegalese populations for whom it holds the mandate, » added the document.

« The threats are ineffective »

Furthermore, the CNL invited « all Christian faithful, all brothers and sisters of all religious denominations and all citizens who love justice and peace, to remain vigilant in the face of these alarming signals which tend, unmistakably, to ostracize the Catholic community and, consequently, to weaken social cohesion. » And, Dr. Tine added in his document: « Christians in Senegal cannot be considered second-class citizens. » In the same note, it is recalled that « private Catholic education remains anchored in the fundamental principles set out by the Constitution of the secular State of Senegal which, in its article 8, respectively enshrines the right to education and the right to know how to read and write for each Senegalese citizen. »

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Therefore, the CNL has asked « all private Catholic institutions in Senegal, institutions that are all Senegalese and placed under the responsibility of the diocesan authorities that are the Bishops of Senegal, to remain firm in promoting the Christian values ​​that are the basis of their educational project, in compliance with the constitutional principles of equality, freedom, mutual respect, and, in total, living together. » For the CNL, « Senegalese of all conditions and all faiths trust private Catholic education. » And warned: “Nothing and no one should distract us from what is essential: the training of Man and of the whole man in love and charity, without any discrimination.”

As a reminder, during the inter-ministerial preparatory meeting for the start of the school year, the Prime Minister relaunched the debate on the banning of the veil in certain schools. In this regard, Ousmane Sonko declared that « we are in a country where the State has unfortunately shown a lot of weakness and everyone regulates in their own way. In other countries, when it is dictated that a certain clothing style is not authorized, everyone complies. In the Republic, it works like that. » Moreover, among the decisions taken during this meeting, there is one that explicitly refers to the issue of the veil. « In order to ensure the conditions for inclusive education, guaranteeing free access for all children to school, without any distinction, particularly with regard to the wearing of clothing, the Minister of National Education must submit, no later than September 27, 2024, an order inviting schools to comply with the provisions of the Constitution with their internal regulations, » demanded the PM.

In giving this instruction, Mr. Sonko added that this decree “will definitively settle this issue so that no student can be discriminated against on this basis.” He even specified that it “will apply to all schools, including those called foreign.” “They are on Senegalese soil and only diplomatic representations are considered foreign territories. They will apply what Senegal has decided,” he fumed.

By Dieynaba KANE / dkane@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH