Catholic educators must expand their approach to performance assessments, moving beyond academic achievement to include spiritual growth and evangelization, a Catholic archbishop said.
Archbishop Julius Tonel of Zamboanga on Thursday stressed that Catholic schools should not only evaluate students’ academic performance but also their development as better Christians.
“The rubric, I believe, should not only be in the matter of excellence in subject matters, but rather, whether our students become better Christians and Catholics,” Tonel said. “That has to be gauged.”
He was speaking during his homily at Mass on the second day of the 2024 Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) national convention at the SMX Lanang in Davao City.
The archbishop also shared observations why many vocations in the country do not come from Catholic schools, emphasizing that the responsibility for spiritual formation begins with teachers and faculty.
“Teachers must be the number one to integrate the Gospel values, especially the beatitudes (into their teaching),” Tonel said.
“Performance task starts with us. A person and a teacher, who tries to imbibe Catholic education with a heart,” he said.
The church official also expressed concern about the lack of participation from some teachers in school Masses.
“It’s very embarrassing when you have school Masses and Eucharistic celebrations, and teachers are not attending. The employees are left behind, and students see that,” he added.
To address this, the archbishop called on educators to engage in the “new way of evangelization” by involving students and faculty in parish life and Basic Ecclesial Communities.
He stressed that the Church’s role extends beyond the school, urging educators to guide students in actively participating in parish life.
“We, as pastors, are in need of your help. We are waiting. The problem might be you create your own, but never lead your students to the parish,” Tonel said.
“The rubric of performance tasks is based on how teachers and students carry out their mission in a manner that evangelizes with charity and conviction… and I leave that to your reflection,” he also said.
