The Confederation of Inner City Education Workers of Bolivia presented to the government this week a proposed law that would eliminate religious instruction, private education, as well as covenant schools, which are public schools administered by the Church.

The director of the Confederation, Rene Fernandez, said in the proposal called “Rescuing the Homeland,” “private and covenant schools will be affected the most.”

The proposal calls for the elimination of the subject of religion and rejects a government alternative that would allow the teaching of the faiths that are practiced in Bolivia.  “Education should be secular, if we want it to be scientific,” the proposal indicates.

Regarding covenant schools, sources close to the Church said they have a better infrastructure than other state facilities because of Church management.  Nevertheless, they warned that all of the advances made by the Church could be lost if the State takes over the schools.

There are 200 covenant schools in Bolivia.  Covenant school officials rejected the proposal and announced they would use appropriate means to oppose it.