Xavier's says it needs space to grow By Frederick Noronha
PANJIM, Dec 9: One of Goa's most prominent college, Xavier's of Mapusa, has voiced its anguish over constraints being placed on its growth potential, saying this was blocking its chances to offer relevant education. College principal Newman Fernandes told alumni on the weekend, "In these days when the licence-permit raj is being dismantled, the (Goa) University still wants to keep control. We ask for starting new programmes, but they in turn tell us to continue with our B.A., B.Com and B.Sc classes." Fernandes pointed out that Goa was producing too many non-specialised graduates, and hinted that if the university did not give permission, then Xavier's would think of launching 'twining' with universities and colleges in the rest of India, Europe or the US. He underlined the need for vast changes in the quality of education offered in this nearly four-decade old institution, telling ex-students: "You are what you are inspite of the educational system. In our (the Goan) system, we only encourage work related to memory. We don't create people who think for themselves or leaders." For possibly the first time, the college has rallied its alumni, hoping to build up their links with their alma mater, and anticipating this loyalty could yield help for the institution to grow further. Fernandes noted that Xavier's has touched a peak strength of as many as 3000 students, including 1700 in the college section and the rest in the higher secondary. Speaking out his mind, he noted that the Catholic Church had "no business" to help those affluent enough to help themselves, but should be taking education to those who didn't have the means "regardless of caste, class or community". Xavier's, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2003, was one of the first crop of post-1961 colleges of Goa set up after the end of Portuguese colonial rule in this state. It is one of only three Catholic-run general colleges in Goa, together with Carmel's in Nuvem and Rosary in Navelim. Incidentally, the first-ever Jesuit seminary in India was called the College of St Paul's and started in Goa in 1541. Currently, the Jesuits have no college-level institution in Goa, though they run few schools in the state. Its students have reached across the globe, some by now holding responsible positions, like the dean of Monmouth University Graduate School Datta Naik, a chemistry graduate from this then-fleding institution. Xavier's numbers had increased, but the facilities had not grown proportionately, Fernandes suggested. Currently, the college has plans for modernising labs, setting up an independent library facility with a language lab and Net connectivity, an indoor stadium, auditorium, LCD screening facilities, and buildings for schools of management, IT and biotechnology. "Our old (yellow-and-blue) college bus is still there," he noted. "Our labs have served their role; today they're being stretched." Fernandes however argued that the existing infrastructure also needed to be better used, as it was being put to use mainly from 8.45 am to 1.56 pm. "Others who require these facilities could make use of them," he said, suggesting that the college be opened up to the wider community. Last Friday, some 200+ alumni attended the meet, and urged the institution to build up a database of all old students, make such meets a regular affair, and take their help and support for expanding the institution. Fernandes stressed the need for Xavier's to shed its image as an elitist institution. He paid tribute to earlier priest-principals of the college, Fathers Cruz, Nicolau Pereira and Antimo Gomes. Staff members who died were remembered at a mass, including Fr Pallithanam (botany), Fr Ivo Mascarenhas (Portuguese), Nelson D'Souza (microbiology), C R Bhonsle (physics), Peter Morris (physics), S Ramaswamy (maths), F David (English), P M Tarakan (physical education), S Kelekar (history), Lino Abreu (French), Mathew (chemistry) and P K Naik (history). Non-teaching staff who passed away -- Maxi D'Souza, Vincy D'Souza, Bento D'Souza, Anthony Queiroz, Sharad Naik, Felise Fernandes, Victor D'Souza, Maxi Fernandes and Lusso -- were also remembered. Xavier's website is up at www.xavierscollege-goa.com and the alumni body can be contacted at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Membership is open to all ex-students, according to the college. (ENDS) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ To unsubscribe from Goanews Send a mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: 'unsubscribe goanews'
