BANGALORE: Catholic educational institutions throughout India have decided to voluntarily adopt reservation policy as applicable to government institutions.

According to a statement issued at the end of 27th general body meeting of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) here, the disadvantaged children will be provided an opportunity to get integrated into the educational system.

The preferential option will be taken even if academic results suffer, the statement said and added that all Catholic schools, whether run by dioceses, religious, corporate bodies or individuals, were expected to participate in this project.

Maintaining that Catholic educational institutions will not accept capitation fees, the statement urged the Government to lay down a just fee structure so as to obviate the need for taking capitation fees and other donations.

The general body had declared as "sinful" the marginalisation of a section of people, who included Dalits, tribal people, economically weaker sections of society, migrants and displaced, girl child, slow learners and differently abled people.

"Marginalisation had been a phenomenon in our country from early days, especially as a result of the caste system," the statement said.

The CBCI had decided that every Catholic child should have a place in its educational institutions. "No catholic child, Dalit or tribal or otherwise, should be deprived of quality education because of lack of means."

It decided to set up more hostels or boarding houses, especially in rural areas since it proved effective in imparting sound education to the marginalised.

The CBCI will identify talented children from marginalised communities and prepare them for higher education. A select group among them will be trained for social and political leadership.

The Bishops said the Church will cooperate with the Government in empowering the marginalised. They urged the Government to enhance the funding to these sections so that they can get the benefits of quality education.

CBCI appealed to all institutions to immediately start implementing the proposals. The general body decided to evolve a national education policy for the Church and entrusted the job with the CBCI Commission for Education and Culture.

The Church in India runs 20,370 educational institutions and 58.5 per cent of these institutions are in rural areas and 54.4 per cent of the students are girls.

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