5. Educational Services of the Diocese [ RC Diocese of Salem ]

Chapter-V
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OF THE DIOCESE
In the modern period education has become a powerful instrument not only of personal realization but also of national development. It is the prime force of the welfare of a nation and of mankind in general. The destiny of India is now being shaped in her classroom. In the era of science and technology, it is the education that determines the level of prosperity, welfare and security of the people. It is considered as an important component of human development. Hence the Decree of Vatican Council II read “The church has a great role to play in the progress and development of education since she is concerned with the whole of man’s life.” According to Swami Vivekananda “Education is the manifestation of perfection in man.” Education guides the human beings to seek the truth and live a life of purity.
Prior to the advent of the missionaries, the universal system of education was not practiced. In the caste-ridden society, the opportunity for education was provided only to upper caste and rich people. The lower caste and poor people were denied the educational opportunity.
The Christian missionaries made consistent efforts to uplift the social and economic condition of the people through education besides they strived hard for liberating the downtrodden and reducing the social inequality by imparting education to the rural masses. The diocesan priests, the religious brothers and sisters in the diocese of Salem made strenuous efforts for imparting value-based education in this region. The efforts of the British to introduce western education in India and the support extended by the British government in India favoured Christian missionaries to continue their service.1They were convinced that the best service they could render a nation was the dedication of their lives to the training of its youth with high ideals.
(A) Efforts of the British Government to Improve Education:
The British made their educational effort in 1813 when the British parliament sanctioned a lakh of rupees per year for promoting education.2 In 1822, an educational enquiry revealed that the few schools that existed in Salem were nothing but Sanskrit and Tamil Veda patasalas.3 Due to the introduction of English education in India by Lord William Bentinck, the British started schools for imparting elementary and higher education in Salem region from 1856. The first elementary school was opened at Salem in 1856 under the auspices of Sri A.J Arbuthnot.4 Thus English education became means of social transmission of culture from one generation to another.5 One of the educational institutions that marked a turning point in Catholic education in Tamilnadu was St. Joesph college founded at Nagapatinam in 1844 and moved to Trichy in 1882.6 The Sisters of Cluny came to Salem in 1896. The Sacred Heart School at Yercaud was founded in early 1900. Monfort School at Yercaud was opened in 1917 in Salem District.
Today there are a great number of schools run by the diocesan priests, religious brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Salem. The quality of education imparted in these intuitions is of relatively high. It is a matter of great rejoicing that Catholic Educational Institutions have made great strides in Salem District since the creation of the Catholic Diocese in 1930.
(B) Vision of the Ministry of Education :
The Catholic Educational Intuitions play a significant role in the progress of education in Salem through the efforts of the service-minded Christian missionaries. Tamilnadu Catholic Educational Association formulates the vision of their ministry in the field of education.
1. In order to build up God’s kingdom on earth, Catholic education should first and foremost be faith inspired
2. Education has to be clear and sound. It has to lead to a harmonious development of physical, mental, spiritual and psychological aspects of the students.
3. To impart wholesome, secular and religious education to the children and women of neglected sections of the society.
4. Catholic Mission is a common mission entrusted by God to the whole academic community, lay and religious and therefore called to be active partners in this mission7.
Education imparted in the catholic institutions in the Diocese is not merely an individual activity but a collective activity of the church. The clergy, religious and the laity engage in the educational ministry.
(C) Types of Educational Institution
The Catholic Institutions, which involve in active educational ministry in Salem, can be classified in to 3 divisions namely
a. Elementary and secondary education
b. Higher education
c. Vocational educational.
(D) Elementary Education :
These Educational centres run by diocesan priests, religious brothers and sisters aim at safeguarding the right of every person to formal education a right enshrined in our Constitution but denied in practice to millions of Indian citizens. They take a strong stand in favour of universal, free and formal education at the elementary level.8 Hence the diocese concentrates more on the progress of lementary and middle school education. They are running more than 50 such schools and thereby they have made free and compulsory education a reality9.
The preferential option of the catholic schools is for the poor in the field of education. They serve the poor, particularly in the backward and rural areas of the diocese. The purpose of running primary schools is to impart basic education to the children in order to eradicate illiteracy and child labour and to raise their standard of living. Admission is given to all irrespective of caste or creed.10 Special attention is given to the poor. They encourage the poor children to concentrate on education and to grow in every aspect of their life. They are also given education in health, values and moral.11
Pre-primary education takes the form of crèches and kinder garten attached to the village primary schools. These primary classes free the older children, particularly girls to pursue their formal education without the need to look after their toddler brothers and sisters. At middle school level, there are associations like Junior Red Cross and Guide. Children are encouraged to save money through Sanjayeeka Scheme. Through the clubs and associations, unity, solidarity and service mindedness is promoted among the young children.12
Article 45 of the Indian Constitution seeks to provide free and compulsory education up to the age of 14. Our country spends [3.9%] more than China [2.71% of Gross Domestic Product] and Srilanka [3.5%] on education.13 In spite of it we had 48% of illiterates in our country in 1991.14 The target of universalization of primary education for our children can be made possible if every citizen takes it up as his onerous duty to spread literacy in our country.
(E). Higher Education:
Since the products of Catholic Schools and other institutions of learning are the future citizens into whose hands the responsibility of deciding the nation’s destiny is entrusted. The highly advanced nations in technology are planning for universalization of higher education. As a matter of fact, Catholic Higher Education Schools in Salem maintain high standard and value-based education.15 They strive hard to impart qualitative education to the students studying at higher secondary school level. The Diocese runs one renowned Mat. Hr. Sec. School by name St. John’s Mat. Hr. Sec. School located at Fairlands, Salem. The religious of Salem Diocese run 10 English schools and 6 Mat. Hr. Sec. Schools.16
It is worthwhile to study about the origin and development of two age old and reputed Diocesan Higher Secondary Schools namely,
1. The Little Flower Hr. Sec. School, Salem. 7.
2. St. Paul’s Hr. Sec. School, Maravaneri, Salem-7.
Little flower Hr. Sec. School, the unique citadel of great learning in Salem was started on 2nd June 1930; as an elementary school by the first Bishop of Salem diocese Henry Prunier with a strength of 70 boys with Fr. R.H.Mischotte as the Head Master.17 Since 1950, the Diocese has been directly managing the school for the intellectual, moral and spiritual formation of the young generation of students of Salem. It is one of the outstanding schools for the boys in the state. It has rendered about 75 years of remarkable educational service to the society .Fr. Leo Depigney ,a great veteran missionary priest and also competent engineer built the ‘H’ Shaped High School building to replace the temporary structures of Fr. Mischotte.18 The achievements of this school are multidimensional. More than 50 students have dedicated to serve God and community as priests; a gallery of old boys are serving the country in a variety of high professionals, to name a few Mr.V.Subramanian [Class of 1940], Manager, Southern Railway, Mr. Natarajan, [Justice], M.R.R. Srinivasan I.P.S., Superintendent of Police, Mr. A.C Ashokan, [Cine Artist] and there are thousands and upon thousands who serve the country in vital professions.19 St. Paul’s Hr. Sec. School, Salem-7 is another renowned school run by the diocese in Salem. Bishop Henry Prunier started this school in 1939 with two teachers and 52 boys with the sole aim of imparting education to the weaker section of the society. 20 This institution was upgraded into High School in 1965 and Higher Secondary School in 1979 respectively. This institution owes its existence to the dedicated, committed and service-minded Diocesan priests.
Along with Diocesan schools, other Higher Secondary and Matriculation Hr. Sec. Schools run by the religious Sisters and Brothers have captured a prominent place in the map of top educational institutions in Tamilnadu. They run as many as 77 Schools in the Diocese of Salem. These institutions provide ample opportunities to develop the talents of the students. School Band, Guides, Bulbuls, Bharathanatyam Class, Interact Club with community service scheme attached, Science Club, Quiz Club, Scouts, N.C.C, Y.S.M and Y.C.S, and different Clubs and Associations which carry out various curricular and extra-curricular activities throughout the year. In these schools special certificates are awarded annually to those who distinguish themselves in studies, games, sports, co-curricular activities, leadership training, social service, speech contest, singing, etc., 21 All the above said activities are conducted routinely in all the Catholic Schools of the Diocese.
Most of the schools in the Diocese perform extremely well in the 10th and 12th public exams even by securing cent present results. Many students obtain very high marks with several students getting state rank in various subjects. Matriculation schools functioning in the diocese create a healthy competition to produce remarkable results in the public exams. In a case study to analyse the performance of the Catholic Schools in the public exams, it is found that they produce invariably very good results every year. To mention the laudable performance of a few schools, in the year 1999, about 37 students of Holy Angels Mat. Hr. Sec. School which is run by Sisters of the Franciscan Servants of Mary, got admission in the professional course on merit, of 37 students 16 got medicine and 21 engineering seats.22 Jayarani Hr. Secondary School bagged the State Rank in the S.S.L.C Examination held in the year 2002.
Holy Cross Mat. Hr. Sec. School is yet another catholic school in the Diocese of Salem rendering yeoman services in the field of education for about 40 years to the society by providing qualitative education. Besides securing good results every year, this institution concentrates more on all round development of the pupils. District level competitions are held in cultural programmes, games, sports, quiz and science exhibition. Utmost care is taken to provide ample opportunities to the rural school students of the district to take an active part in these contests in order to bring out their hidden talents. Because of its academic excellence and all-round development, the Sun T.V has placed this school in fourth place in the state in the ranking test conducted by Neilson & Group in the year 200423. Many institutions in the Diocese have completed more than 50 years of their service for the noble cause of education. Few such age old and pioneer schools are Little Flower Hr. Sec. School, St.Paul’s Hr.Sec.School, St.Mary’s Hr. Sec. School, Arisipalayam, St. Mary’s Girls Hr.Sec.School, Mettur Dam, St.Joesph’s Teacher Training School, Phagalpatti, St. Theresa’s Industerial School, Salem-7, Nirmala Higher Secondary School, Kolathur, St.Joseph’s School, Yercaud, St. Monfort Anglo-Indian School, Yercaud, St. Joesph’s Girls Hr.Sec.School, Suramangalam and St. Joesph Mat.Hr.Sec. School,Linemedu, Salem.
F. Vocational Education :
The Hunter Commission in the 80’s of the last century spoke of the necessity and importance of vocationalizing our education and harness the varied talents of youth to national productivity and provide education and employment for them. A strong effort was made by the diocese to establish a vocational education. Accordingly in 1931, St. Theresa’s Industrial School was founded by Fr.Mischotte to provide vocational training to the poor boys. He started this institute in a thatched shed with 8 poor boys as a school of wood working trade with the recognition of the Government.24 This is one of the oldest vocational institutions in Tamilnadu.
By 1945 new buildings were constructed and two more vocational courses namely “Smithy and Bricks Laying” were introduced. Subsequently these courses were discontinued and instead of them, Motor Mechanic Trade was started in 1957. In 1969, one more course ‘Turner’ was added. The Department Of Employment And Training Industrial School Certificates are issued to successful trainees at the end of their final exams. The poor helpless orphan boys are provided with boarding and lodging facilities free of cost. The products turned out of carpentry and engineering sections are sold out and income derived out of this is spent for the noble cause of feeding the inmates and general maintainence.25 Hence it is one of the self-help model vocation centres which remains a roll model for other institutions.
G. Teacher Training Institute:
The teacher assumes an important role in shaping the younger generation. In order to train the teachers with extraordinary qualities of mind and heart to mould the students community, the first Bishop of Salem, Bishop Rev. Henry Prunier established St. Mary’s Teacher Training Institute within the premises of St.Mary’s High school, Arisipalayam in 1947.26 This institution was shifted to St. Joesph Girls Hr.Sec. School, Suramangalam in 1979. Now it is functioning at Phagalpatti under the administration of Gonzague Sisters in the name of St.Joseph’s Teacher Training Institute at Pagalpatti. This institute promotes service mindedness in students and enlightens them to the spiritual way of life and to develop leadership qualities among the women. The curriculum taught in this centre is Tamil, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education etc. Its extra curricular activities include making and using of model and charts, training in handicrafts, catechism, value education, literary talks, practice of dramas, debates, group games, competition and study are arranged.27 Through this institute all round development is given to the teachers. This centre admits students from other religions and creed and train them to serve for the cause of education.
H. Teacher’s Day Celebration :
It is celebrated on 5th September every year in memory of Dr. Radha Krishnan, former President of India. at Epiphany Centre. The Bishop presents the report on the educational achievements of the catholic schools in the Diocese. More than 2500 teachers from (127) various schools take active part in the one day seminar arranged exclusively for the teachers. Resource persons in the field of education are invited to address the teachers on the importance of Teacher’s role in the society and the need for utilizing latest techniques and on the teacher’s nation building mission. Schools which produce centum results and obtain distinction in various subjects in 10th and 12th public exams are honored with shields and prizes. Teachers who retire in the religious and diocesan are also honoured on that day28.
Education is the prime force for the welfare of the nation and of mankind in general. It exerts ever mounting influence on the social progress of this modern age. Hence the Diocesan priests, religious men and women take active part in social transformation through providing life oriented and value based education. They have been taking utmost care to impart education to the children of socially weaker sections even before the introduction of reservation system. The quality of education maintained in these institutions is relatively of very high standard. Thus the educational service done by the Diocese of Salem is praiseworthy.