Report of the meeting of the
Principals and Managers held at Mount St. Thomas on June 24th, 14.
The Major
Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry inaugurated the Conference.
Dr. Cyriac Thomas gave the key-note address.
Fr.Tomy
Padinjareveettil, Fr.Vincent Nedungatt,Dr.Chackochan Njavallil and Fr. George
Madathiparampil spoke at the meeting.
Fr. George
Madathiparampil welcomed the gathering.
49
Principals and Managers were present.
Inaugurating
the Conference, the Cardinal, while explaining the notion of sustainable
development in the protection of the environment, urged the participants to
apply the same theory of development in the matter of Christian education by keeping the identity of Christian
education while working for academic excellence. Sustainable Christian Higher
education should preserve Christian values and not to dilute them. Our
institutions should be concerned about the integrity of our faith and of our
society especially at a time when our people are becoming highly susceptible to
forces of consumerism and secularism which negate spiritual values.
The Cardinal
also referred to the changes that happened at the National level, particularly
to the emphasis on Nationalism by the ruling party at the Centre. He maintained
that Nationalism should be broad enough to include people of all religions and
traditions while retaining one’s love of the country.
Dr. Cyriac
Thomas drew the attention of the participants to maintaining the credibility of
our institutions of which they are in charge. The leaders of our institutions
in the past were respected all over the State because of their integrity and
vision. Our institutions should be catalysts in forming leaders who know the
present and have the ability to see far into the future to
shape the present. Christian institutions should see to it that quality should
not be lost in the selection of teachers. Referring to the “ Pope Francis
effect “, he bemoaned the lack of any impact on our society by the words and
actions of the Holy Father.
Fr.Tomy
Padinjareveettil explained the preparations for autonomy done by S.B. college
and offered to clarify the doubts of many with regard to the implications of
autonomy. Fr. Vincent Nedungatt stressed the need for introducing new courses
which offer innumerable opportunities for career development of the students.
Dr.Chackochan Njavallil briefed the audience about the discussions that took
place at the meeting of the directors of the Campus Ministry. He told them
about the publication of a book of guidelines, the need to start an e-news letter and a bimonthly journal , the starting of competitions to involve
more students in Catholic initiatives apart from intensifying their
participation in attendance at Eucharistic services, prayer meetings , volunteering
for helping the poor and conducting more seminars on religious topics. He also
stressed the need to continue classes in Religion and Morals.
It is to be
noted that 12 colleges have signed up supporting the venture of the Directors
of the Campus ministry to start publishing a bi-monthly in Malayalam
exclusively for the Catholic students of our colleges by offering financial support
of Rs. 5000 annually.
During the
discussions, the Major Archbishop intervened to point out the following facts.
1. Some
members of our community are against us because Catholic students are denied admission
in our schools and colleges.
2. Some of
the institutions run by the religious congregations and parishes are pursuing a
very independent line without caring for the needs of the Catholic community.
3. Time to
think of starting more colleges to meet the needs of the community.
4.Self-Financing
schools are sometimes seen going ahead with a policy that is very detrimental
to the Catholic community.
4.KCBC
should be informed about the grievances and complaints that the managements feel in the running of the
institutions in order to bring it to the
attention of the Govt.
A committee
was formed consisting of the following persons to discuss the anomaly in appointments
to the teaching and to the non-teaching staff
of the college.
Dr.Joy(Bharata
Matha college),Fr.C handy Punnakkatt(Mananthavady college),Fr. Francis Alappat,
VG of Kothamangalam,Fr. Tomy Padinajareveettil,
Fr. Vincent Nedungatt,Sr.Rose Bastian(Vice-Principal,Irinjalakuda),Fr.Varghese
Kalaparampil, and Fr.Jose Theken,Irinjalakuda.
The Committee
made the following suggestions to be brought to the attention of the Govt. on
behalf of KCBC
1. The freedom
to appoint at least 50 % of the Ministerial staff who have higher
qualifications than SSSLC.
2.
Permission to start new courses in the aided stream
3. Permission
to appoint teachers in the courses sanctioned in the aided stream.
4. Appointment
of Non-teaching staff for the new courses that were sanctioned.
5. Existing
staff pattern should be followed in these appointments.
Dr. Chackochan
Njavallil expressed the vote of thanks .
The meeting
concluded with a prayer by the Major Archbishop.
