It was the first face-to-face meeting for this important commission concerning the Salesian schools of the Old Continent after the years of forced pause due to the pandemic.
On the first day of work, Antonio Rodríguez, member of the Salesian Youth Ministry Sector and coordinator of the Commission on behalf of the SDBs, presented the results of the “Educobarometer” survey carried out a few years ago, which helped to raise awareness of the results and needs of Salesian schools in Europe. The school management teams are responsible for the definition and development of the educational activity carried out in the institutes. Their high level of motivation, professionalism and sensitivity to the Salesian educational proposal, together with teamwork and ongoing formation, are the factors that most favour the quality of the teaching offered. In this respect, through the 402 responses received in the survey, some common lines of work were suggested, such as: formation in active methodologies and specific formation to help the emotional well-being of all members of educative and pastoral communities. Each Province also presented its own data analysis, indicating strengths, areas for improvement, threats and opportunities in its own set of circumstances.
For her part, Emanuela Chiang, also a member of the Youth Ministry Sector, led by the General Councillor, Fr Miguel Angel García Morcuende, developed a stimulating reflection on Integral Education, which served to outline some action guidelines for the immediate future.
The choice of the venue for the meeting in Madrid made it possible to get to know two significant Salesian works in that city: the San Juan Bautista - Salesianos Estrecho institute, which this year celebrates its centenary; and the Don Bosco Higher Education Centre in Humanities and Educational Sciences (better known as "Don Bosco ESC").
An important goal for this meeting was to present a research approach on the emotional well-being of students and teachers in Salesian centres, which will be carried out by the Salesian University of Madrid, in order to better understand the daily circumstances in which students and staff live.
In addition to all that has been shared and celebrated in these days, the organisers and the Youth Ministry Sector have insisted on the need to journey together, Salesians and FMA, in a school and international context. These meetings, in fact, challenge us to be sowers of hope in the face of the crisis of being and the complexity and ambivalence of today's world.
SDB-FMA schools have a long educational tradition that has been enriched by their experience and their reflection on the existence and operation of schools; they have been, are and will be platforms of evangelisation in which they try to make sure that students can integrate their lives, their culture and their faith. It has also been observed from the Madrid meeting that Salesian centres continue to promote an openness towards all those who wish to choose them, without economic, social, religious, racial or birth discrimination. In addition, all the people who make up the Educative and Pastoral Community become key players the educational activity of their centres.
The Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians are committed to the integral formation of students in all their facets, which favours their growth as individuals in their relationship with others and with God. The proposal of the values of the Salesian school, together with the accompaniment and personalised attention for each student, are key elements of the Salesian educational offering.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/19353-spain-the-work-of-the-salesian-school-commission-in-sdb-fma-europe-resumes#sigProId67891fd88a
