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DON BOSCO SCHOOLS

The conversion of Don Bosco High Schools into Higher secondary Schools at Dimapur, Kohima, Wokha (Nagaland), Mao and Maram (Manipur) together with the colleges at Dimapur, Itanagar and Maram and B.Ed. College in Dimapur could be a partial answer to meet effectively the challenges facing the northeast. It is no exaggeration, “Salesian schools have been the pioneers in the field of education in northeast India,” says Fr. Joseph Thettayil.
 
Salesian education
 
Salesian education strives to effect a meaningful relationship between natural and supernatural values. The Salesian method is to bring students to love and respect their God-given gifts and talents in such a way that they will endeavor to develop them. To achieve this, the educator must respect the dignity, freedom and uniqueness of each student. This permits a freedom and creativity in students, yet always within the framework of order and reason. Their good-will should be cultivated in such a way that love and respect follow. In this way, they will come to obey not in blind submission, but through gentle persuasion. This will result in an open and sincere person, generous with both his/her talents and personal goods, a youth with lively faith and a spirit of unselfishness, dedicated to his/her family and country.
 

 

 

Salesian Schools of Dimapur Province
 
At the starting of Dimapur province in 1982, there were three full-fledged high schools. The three high schools were in Imphal (Manipur), Dibrugarh (Assam) and Kohima (Nagaland), the oldest being that of Don Bosco Dibrugarh. There were ten primary schools – four in Assam, four in Nagaland and two in Manipur. But in 2007, 25 years since the formation of the province, there are 6 higher secondary schools, 23 high schools, 28 primary schools in the province. 33,717students are being catered to in all these 59 schools.
 
Apart from the academic learning the Salesian schools organize numerous co-curricular activities and programmes to promote cultural advancement, personality development, competitive spirit, social awareness, leadership training, moral and ethical life and values. A significant feature of all our schools is the teaching of moral science as part of the school syllabi.
 
 
 
New Initiatives
 
New initiatives in the form of evening schools and non-formal schools are also established in many parts of the province. An Assamese medium enterprise up to class IV, in the premises of Don Bosco School, was a living monument to Don Bosco in his death centenary 1988.The students mostly children of the tea labourers from the neighbouring tea gardens who complete successfully class IV are assisted with fees and books to continue their schooling elsewhere till class X. More than thirty ‘Leikai schools’ (rural schools) were started by Fr. George Menamparampil in the suburbs of Imphal, Manipur for the “poorest of the poor.” Lay people are empowered to run these. Another endeavour, the Intensive Rural Education (IRE) at Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, started by Fr. Dominic Pendanam in 2003 is an initiative which helps over children to do their initial classes in an intensive manner and they are placed in classes according to their again after two years of their stay at the centre. They are provided food, lodging and education free. Similarly, Fr. T.O. Sebastian offered in 1999 free education for the poor children aged 5-14 at “Boscome” in the outskirts of Dimapur. Inspired and managed by Fr. Sebastian, appreciated by their guardians and neighbourhood, and helped by eight teachers, Boscome has nine centres with a capacity of over 300 students. Evidently, Boscome for “young at risk” meets a crying need of the day.
 

 

Contribution of the schools
 
The invaluable contributions of the Salesian schools to the development of Northeast India can hardly be exaggerated. Even the pre-primary school at the remote villages of the province can boast of the positive transformations it has brought about in the life style, habits, culture, economy, social and political status of the people of the area. Through the Salesian schools, the people of the region enjoy the ‘best education’ available in the country. They are deeply impressed by the efficient and smooth running of the schools right from the start. The transparent and corruption free functioning of the school authorities have created a lasting impression in the minds of the public and earned respect for the institutions.
 
 

 

Some of the noteworthy contributions of the Salesian Schools are:
 
1.       The Salesian schools have contributed towards the formation of an educated laity.
2.       The schools have brought about academic excellence in the region.  
3.       The schools have contributed greatly towards the integral formation of the human person.
4.       Personal contacts and easy interaction between teachers and students are positive factors of our schools.
5.       The Salesian schools have made a great contribution in safeguarding the tribal values and cultures through their multifarious activities and initiatives.
6.       Education has helped people to do away with many evils that were prevalent in the tribal society.
7.       It has also contributed to evangelization of the region.
8.       It has created awareness and modern thinking leading to modernization and development.                   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Conclusion
 
The Salesians have been the pioneers in the field of education in Northeast India. The Salesian schools are still relevant and necessary for the people of the region. Since the people of the region are quite poor, the vast majority of them cannot go out of the region for a better education. Hence the Salesian schools can contribute greatly towards the genuine needs of the people for education and human development. A well-planned and well-graduated educational system has always been the pillar of development and progress of any society. The progress, peace and prosperity of Northeast will depend greatly on the smooth and effective running of the schools of the region, particularly the Salesian schools.