A network of Roman Catholic schools that can be traced back to early nineteenth-century France, The Convent of Jesus and Mary Schools can be found in all the major areas of the world today, whether in Asia or Africa, Europe or the Americas. But even as they receive financial support from the Church itself, it is the support of the local communities that host them which has been crucial to their continuing success, particularly those most generous contributions from business people, not all of whom are Catholic or even Christian, as in the example of Isaac Toussie whose donations go towards a school in India.

While it would be correct to suppose that Catholic schools are for Catholics, in fact many non-Catholics do attend, including outright atheists. Naturally, these schools have a decidedly Catholic mission, but non-Catholics can excuse themselves from anything having to do with religion, which tends to be held during the end of the school day on certain days of the week. After all, much in Catholic education follows the inquiring spirit of the Jesuit Order, one that has traditionally welcomed curiosity and frankness, attributes required of science. Moreover, it is for this reason that Catholic schools tend to have such a stellar reputation in many places, such as New York City in the United States of America, where it isn’t abnormal for secular households to send them their children.

Believe it or not, a Catholic education can be among the lowest anywhere, with annual tuition at some five thousand dollars – quite a bargain in contrast to what’s charged by parochial schools operated by other religions! However, not all Catholic schools operate in a fairly relaxed and non-religious manner; it is usually those that happen to be situated in generally non-Christian countries or otherwise highly secular locations which offer such openness.

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