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Published Date: October 26, 2009

Singapore’s last two religious high school principals are to relinquish their jobs, leaving all 35 Catholic schools with lay people at the helm.

Catholic Junior College’s (CJC) Brother Paul Rogers, 59, also a former principal of St Joseph’s Institution (SJI), will be returning to Australia to head the Melbourne boys’ school De La Salle College. He will be replaced by former CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent principal, Mrs Christine Anne Kong, AsiaOne reports.

Maris Stella High School’s (MSHS) Brother Anthony Tan, 62, will be retiring after 25 years at the helm. His current vice-principal, Mr Joseph Lim, will be stepping into the role.

The moves, to take place in December, mark the end of an era in which Catholic nuns and brothers helmed the schools founded by their predecessors. Catholic schools were founded with the objective of developing the mind, body and spirit of their students.

Mr Bernard Chen, chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools in Singapore, said fewer people worldwide are deciding to devote their lives to the Catholic Church. And even if they do, many opt for social work or take up lives of prayer and self-reflection instead.

Acknowledging the trend, Br Paul said: ‘We are an endangered species. It is unfortunate that the religious teaching orders in Singapore have not been able to attract sufficient young men and women to join their ranks…

“They add diversity to the perspectives of the school community working alongside lay people who may be single or married,” he said.

With the departure of the two remaining principals, there will be fewer than 10 brothers and nuns who remain as teachers in mission schools.

But the culture and traditions they instilled remain strong, said Mr Chen. Many nuns and brothers still sit on the board of governors or management committees of the schools, allowing them to influence policies in the schools, including having a say on who will be principal.

SOURCE

End of an era at Singapore’s Catholic schools (AsiaOne)

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