The national CBCI Education consultation was done by way of a full day Programme on 14^th  Nov 2018 for the National and Provincial Education Coordinators of Religious Congregations and it was attended by about 100 participants. It was held at Don Bosco Provincial House, Okhla. The inaugural session continued with the welcoming and felicitating of the Chairperson of the CBCI Office for Education and Culture Most Rev. Thomas D’Souza, Archbishop of Kolkata and the Member Bishops of the CBCI Office for Education Most Rev. Archbishop John Moolachira, Archbishop of Guwahati and Rev. Fr. Joy Jacob, Rector, Don Bosco Provincial House Okhla.

Archbishop John Moolachira said that even in the face of the multiple pressures that all of us have while running our institutions, we need to focus our attention and works for the Catholic children, organize scholarships for needy children and keep alive our option for the poor. Next, he led the participants to consider the qualities required for a Principal and imbibe the spirit of the Church, compassion for the needy and a heart for the poor. The need of the hour was to work in collaboration and adopt participatory management, continuously motivating the staff and training them and seek their full participation in the mission and full cooperation.

In the key-note address given by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza highlighted the salient and relevant features of the policy contained in the “All India Catholic Education Policy” and the importance of implementing them- namely: Provide quality and relevant education for all especially the poor; provide education that frees persons from the encumbrances of discrimination, illiteracy and whatever endangers life and respect and inculcate the values in life; promote respect for diversity and inclusiveness; provide education that humanises and allows all to play their rightful role in society, understand economic structures and political systems and promote transparency and accountability; impart education that energizes the young and promote nation building; impart education that shapes character, provides competence and promotes qualities of the heart; ensure promoting collaboration and cooperation and finally provide education that nurtures encounter with God and nourishes faith and teaches values.

Fr. Joseph Manipadam, Secretary for the CBCI Office for Education gave a presentation reporting on some of the very latest concerns posed by the latest Government policy changes after which he gave a report on the work of evaluating and certifying the Catholic institutions across the country on the effectiveness of implementation of the “All India Catholic Education Policy” by each institution and the overall impact in each of the 14 regions through the graphic analysis that had been done. He ended his presentation with the  inauguration of the  “CBCI Education Mastermind”, a commemorative national quiz for schools across the country to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the “All India Catholic Education Policy” to create awareness and onward enthusiasm generating commitment to implement the Catholic Education Policy.

Sr.Clara Saminathan