The inaugural session opened with a heartfelt welcome from Rev. Fr. P. D. Johny, followed by a prayer service led by students from Don Bosco College. Fr. Geo Kalladanthiyil, the local coordinator, warmly greeted delegates and discussed the selection of a non-Salesian venue for this special occasion. Following a harmonious performance by the Don Bosco College choir, Fr. Jose Koyickal, the Provincial in-charge of Higher Education, spoke on the importance of moving toward “other-centred” education, emphasizing the call for commitment and sacrifice in Salesian work. Recorded messages from Rev. Fr. Miguel Angel Garcia and Rev. Fr. Biju Michael highlighted the core mission of youth ministry and the pro-poor focus essential to Salesian education.
The session continued with Fr. Patrick Lepcha’s presentation on Pope Francis’s document “The Identity of a Catholic School for a Culture of Dialogue,” which served as a foundation for setting ten objectives and five actionable goals for Salesian educators. Following a presentation on the statutes of the Don Bosco Schools Association of India, Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal, the Provincial in-charge of School Education invited feedback, contributing valuable insights to shape Salesian education nationally.
The second day began with morning worship, followed by an inspirational Eucharistic celebration honouring St. John Paul II, patron of the Shillong Province. As the day’s program unfolded, coordinators from each Province presented updates, sharing unique initiatives and achievements. For instance, Bangalore focused on holistic, child-centred education, while Mumbai emphasized mentorship from urban to rural institutions. Guwahati’s rural missionary efforts, Hyderabad’s work in semi-urban areas, and Shillong’s Bosco Olympics underscored the diversity and unity within Salesian schools.
The afternoon introduced EDUSTAR, a new tool designed to evaluate and uplift Salesian schools as centres of excellence. After lively discussions on its application in diverse contexts, an EDUSTAR board was formed, with Rev. Fr. Arun appointed as convener. Later, educational tech companies showcased products designed to enhance learning environments, like BenQ’s classroom displays, Etome’s blue-light-free E-Ink technology, and Project CACA’s safety-focused curriculum, each resource offering potential advancements for Salesian institutions.
The final day included a session by Dr. Vinay M., Associate Professor at Christ University, who discussed the digitization of learning practices to support evolving educational needs. The meeting concluded with a collective review of goals, including Edustar implementation, regional conferences, and annual data publication. Delegates shared immense gratitude to the host Province of Bangalore, for the excellent organisation, accommodation, and arrangements that contributed to the event’s success.
Fr. Geo Kalladanthiyil, SDB
Source: Don Bosco South Asia
