CESU celebrates Teachers Day, Honours retired Teachers
Udupi: The Catholic education Society of Udupi (CESU) Diocese organised the Teachers Day celebrations on Saturday, September 3 at the St Mary’s English Medium School, Kannarpady.
The programme began with a prayer dance by students of Don Bosco English Medium School Shirva, Fr Fred Mascarenhas Correspondent of St Mary’s English Medium School welcomed the gathering. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo Bishop of Udupi Diocese inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp.
Pramod Madhwaraj minister for fisheries, Sport and youth affairs and also district minister in-charge felicitated three achievers, teachers namely Fr Anil Prakash D’Silva (Ph. D holder), Fr Mahesh D’Souza (Best district Teacher award 2015-16) and Dr Vincent Alva (Ph.D holder) on the occasion.
In his message Pramod Madhwraj applauded the work of Catholic Education institutions in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, he said that the Catholic Educational institutions have played a prominent role in imparting quality based disciplined education to the students thus influencing them to become ideal citizens of the country. The Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district have excelled in the education sector and its credit should go to the Christian Educational institutions.
Christian education institutions have revolutionalised the education sector in the region. Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have carved their own niche in the field of education due to their efforts.
Both the districts are far ahead in the education index and can be compared with any other district in the USA and European countries. Both the districts have the growth rate ahead of all other districts in the country.
Briefing about a survey taken up to evaluate education, health, drinking water, sanitation status of the gram panchayats in the state, the minister said the top three places go to Bengaluru Urban, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. All these districts are above the average criteria. Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are highly developed in this aspect, he added.
Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo along with the dignitaries on the dais honoured the retired and would be retiring teachers during the academic year 2016-17 right from the primary, higher primary, high school, PUC and college level by offering them shawl, fruit basket, flowers and memento.
R B Nayak deputy director of Pre-University College felicitated the heads of educational institutions which had registered 100 percent results in SSLC and PUC examinations held in March/April 2016.
Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves and Leen Tauro recalled their service in their respective educational institutions on behalf of the retired teachers who were honoured.
In his presidential address, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo said that it is through education one can move from darkness to light and this noble task is being done by the teachers. Educational institutions and the teachers shape the lives of thousands of children and youngsters. Teaching is not only a profession but a vocation.
Recalling the words of Pope Francis, the Bishop said “Please”, “thank you” and “sorry”, are words that “open up the road to a good life”. These three words “please”, “thank you” and “sorry”, are simple, but not so easy to put into practice. We should try and teach to practice this in every student’s life, he added.
Fr Lawrence C D’Souza secretary of CESU delivered the Vote of thanks, while Mariette Sequeira and Suresh Hebbar Compered the programme.