De La Salle brothers must find new ways to animate their schools

Published Date: July 6, 2009

With the retirement of Brother Paul Ho as principal of St. Xavier’s College in Penang, no De La Salle brother directly administers a Lasallian school in Malaysia.

Brother Ho retired on June 20 at the age of 55, the retirement age for civil servants in Malaysia. He says in this interview with UCA News that the brothers need to find new ways to contribute to the 56 schools their institute, formally the Brothers of the Christian Schools, built in the country since 1852.

Brother Paul Ho

The interview follows:UCA NEWS: Why are there virtually no La Salle brothers in their schools today?

BROTHER PAUL HO: The number of brothers has declined because there have been no young men willing to dedicate themselves to Religious life. Furthermore, there is this tendency to opt for the priesthood because administering the sacraments seems more attractive. The brothers mainly teach, something laymen can do without embracing the evangelical counsels. We lost some of our young brothers in the 1990s, because they chose the married life.

What has been the Lasallian schools’ main contribution to Malaysian society?

In our 157 years in the country, we have established schools that can rival any government school. The work of the brothers is to reflect Jesus Christ in the classroom. (This is confirmed by) testimonies given by old boys who had experienced the brothers.

What was the main change in Lasallian schools in Malaysia?

In my eight years as a teacher and 18 years and nine months as principal, the Lasallian schools have undergone many changes. The education policy in Malaysia has changed drastically. The position of the brothers in schools was seen as an obstacle for lay teachers to be promoted as principals. Brothers had been allowed to retire at 65, and many of our premier La Salle schools had brothers as principals.

In 1988, however, all brothers older than 55 were asked to retire with immediate effect. Thus, vacancies were created for lay teachers to take over. And any new brother wanting to join the teaching profession in Malaysia had to be in the civil service. They have the same status as lay teachers. The snag is that a brother may not be able to return to our own schools to teach. He may be posted to some other school.

Many of our Lasallian traditions such as inter-La Salle games or sports were no longer allowed. The lay principals that were appointed by the Ministry of Education were not cooperative with the brothers. Their “classic” stand is that they are civil servants and their master is the Ministry of Education.

With the resurgence of Islam, there is a tendency to dilute Christian mission schools’ heritage. There is no respect for the past contribution of these schools in nation building. Catholic and Protestant schools in Malaysia have been the backbone of formal education in the country. The missioners who came here to open schools gave Malaysia a solid education framework.

What is the future of La Salle schools in Malaysia?

Brothers no longer hold any position of power in schools. So, they do not directly administer the schools. The brothers are still present in Malaysia, but now our contribution has changed from direct to indirect administration of the schools. Retired brothers will have to find new avenues of animating Lasallian schools.

Human beings are very creative. Christianity has stood the test of time. The future of Lasallian schools is not bleak. God has his ways. The spirit of the institute of the brothers is faith.

We have seen our schools dissolved in some countries in the past — look at Burma [Myanmar] and Vietnam. They were acquired by the government.

In Malaysia, the laypeople have depended on the brothers far too long, and we brothers have been narcissistic. We got entrenched in our glorious achievements and failed to animate our lay partners. So now we have to see how best to carry on. As long as the brothers are present in the country, we do what we can in collaboration with our old boys and girls.

The Lasallian mission can (also) be accomplished in other ways such as the annual Lasallian convention and the annual Lasallian educators’ conference.

What were some noteworthy moments for you as principal?

The journey has been a roller-coaster ride. The difficult moments were mainly with parents (who thought) their children were given a raw deal when their darlings committed offences in the school. The public in general have always perceived themselves as educational experts. They offer simplistic solutions to problems faced by the school.

The good moments are when old boys and parents work together to raise money to improve school facilities.

Does the Church support Lasallian schools?

The Church in Malaysia does not embrace Catholic schools. The schools work independently, so no bishop has asked how the schools are doing or taken the initiative to ask the provincials to organize Catholic education conferences. The Church does not finance (us).

I keep reminding laypeople that brothers and nuns have to support themselves. We have to finance ourselves, as more and more Religious now need health care. The brothers’ schools are not for sale, although the brothers have used their own money from their salaries to buy land to build schools in the past 157 years.

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