St Britto looking out to play a bigger role in Goa's education BrittoOBA
MAPUSA, Aug 13: St Britto's, the most prominent school in Mapusa, is looking at growing and playing a wider social role in society, educators told alumni at a meeting here today. "We have been looking at options for a higher secondary school. The Jesuits in Goa are also studying a non-aided school model," said school headmaster Fr Apollo Cardozo SJ. Speaking at the alumni annual meet, Fr Apollo also lead a brief discussion which looked at possibilities like vocational education, a night school, a community college, or life-long learning possibilities. Plans are afoot to build a centre for alumni too. "St Britto for you was a laboratory, where you mingled with students of different social, economic, cultural and religious backgrounds and you lived here in harmony, tolerance and friendship. Society needs people like you with such values," said Fr Cardozo. Assistant principal Fr Cecil SJ announced plans to improve the school playground. Over a period of time, this will include drainage, ground work, changing rooms, and fencing for the entire ground. The plans are at a preliminary stage. It's pay-back time for the old boys too. Past-pupils of the Jesuit-run school recently held a career guidance programme for students. Britto's will also welcome its past-pupils taking part in a BMX (St Britto's-St Mary's-St Xavier's) reunion which touches home-base Goa this year-end after a similar event held in Canada earlier this decade. Lucindo Faria briefed on plans for the BMX event in Goa, between December 16/17 to 22, 2006. See www.bmxgoa.com on the internet for details. The Society of Jesus is a Christian religious order of the Catholic Church. With 20,000 members across the world, Jesuit priests and brothers mainly focus on education and intellectual contributions, primarily at colleges and universities, as well as missionary work and ministry in human rights and social justice. Incidentally, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus -- sometimes called the 'Black Pope', because of the colour of robes worn once worn by the Jesuits, and the perception of their influence in the Church -- is due to visit Goa on November 9, 2006 and meet some alumni at Loyola's Margao. Britto 'old boys' -- as the alumni call themselves -- are planning to publish a book of their memoirs. Miguel Braganza called this the first attempt by ex-students of a school in Goa to come out with an ambitious publication "from an alumni perspective". Shantaram Halarnkar (Class of 1973, and a teacher since 1982) presented the minutes of the last meet. Educators exhorted 'old boys' to keep the fire burning, and believe that they have power to "change society" for the better. Receiving a quality education was a priviledge, and a challenge to reach out to others lacking such a priviledge. "What we need today is to give of ourselves," said Fr Cardozo. "This school has done much for your. Now it is time to do your best for the institution. Not just resources, but by way of your time, energy and your smiles," said Britto old boy Fr Patrick D'Mello SJ. Some of the old boys who came for Sunday's meet studied in the school as early as in the mid-1950s. They come from diverse professions -- co-op bank managers, teachers, businessmen, engineers, managers in industry and tourism, entrepreneurs, radio officers, and even Jesuit provincials and former provincials. Britto's has been trying to revive its alumni, and there were calls on Sunday for maintaining continuity in this initiative. (ENDS) _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
