Pressing ‘reset’ on Catholic Education

As the new school term gets underway, the Vicar for Education, Fr David Khan, is setting out a bold vision for Catholic education in Trinidad and Tobago. Speaking on the programme Altos, Fr Khan described the current moment as nothing short of a “reset” for schools under the Catholic Education Board of Management (CEBM).

“Think of it like your cell phone,” he explained. “When you hit reset, it wipes clean, and then you start to load up the new information again. That’s exactly what we’re doing with our educational system. We are resetting it to load up the new information. Using technology, it’s a wonderful world, introducing AI to our classrooms and focusing heavily on literacy and numeracy.”

Strategic leadership and practical management

Fr Khan wears two hats: Vicar for Education, with responsibility for setting the mission and vision for Catholic schools across the Archdiocese, and Chief Executive Officer of the CEBM, charged with ensuring day-to-day operations.

“The two complement each other,” he said. “The vicar focuses on the strategic leadership for the whole Archdiocese, whereas the CEO of CEBM ensures policies, procedures, and the running of the schools. It is functioning the way it ought to function as a Catholic educational body, which is holistic development.”

He emphasised that keeping Christ at the centre and bringing Gospel values to all students remains the foundation of this work.

Before the school term began, Fr Khan wrote to teachers and principals across the country. The letter, he said, was well received: “It was a sense of hope that they recognised—they are not alone, that they are supported by the CEBM. It is the reset, as I talk about, really ensuring that the child is at the centre and also for the teachers to recognise that they are our hope. They are the hope. This is also a Jubilee year. We are all pilgrims of hope.”

He insisted that teachers must see themselves as vital to the present, not merely the future: “We will have no future if we don’t have a present.”

School violence and short-term fixes

The rising issue of school violence has not escaped Catholic institutions. While acknowledging incidents, Fr Khan was clear: “We cannot use a one-off incident and say, ‘We need this.’ We have to really look at the data, the situation, the circumstance, what has led to this particular violence in the school.”

Although some Catholic schools were mistakenly listed in the daily press as hosting police officers, he clarified: “We actually have no police in these schools. What we do have, and it was done even before this introduction of police in school, are normal patrols.”

For him, the longer-term solution lies in building a culture of love and presence among teachers: “If we have a full complement of teachers, if we really focus on loving God’s children… it will curb the stem of violence.”

With 118 primary schools and 6 secondary schools under CEBM management, Fr Khan has committed his first year to visiting them all. He began at the far southern end of the country in Moruga and is working his way northwards. “Following true scripture, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last,” he said.

His visits are not ceremonial. “It’s really to find out what is happening in our schools—a personal one-on-one with principals and teachers that they know the CEBM cares, that they will be given the support necessary for our schools to excel.”

Practical challenges: furniture and rebuilding

The pandemic has left lasting marks, including shortages of school furniture. “The factory that produced the furniture during Covid time closed down and they haven’t reopened. At present, I’ve reached out to some corporate sponsors to help sponsor furniture for some of our schools.”

Infrastructure also remains a concern. St Dominic’s RC Primary in Penal and Granville RC Primary in Cedros are both awaiting rebuilding. “The schools are currently housed in community centres,” he explained. “We do have the land space to rebuild both schools. But as you know, with change of government, the process is slow. We are working with the government to see how soon we can rebuild.”

In closing, Fr Khan made an appeal to all citizens, regardless of faith: “Our Catholic schools have to serve this nation. We continue to serve this nation, and we have many people who have passed through our institutions and are successful. I’m making a plea that they adopt a school. It’s not about religion. It’s about the furtherance of education and loving God’s children.”

Those interested, he said, can contact the CEBM directly: “They can reach out to the CEBM. They can reach out to yours truly, myself at the CEBM office.”

Fr Khan’s contact information: 358-2127, d.khan@cebm.org.tt, or 607-CEBM (2326).

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