Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (EP)
Bantwal, Apr 15: The newly-constructed building for St John's Higher Primary School in Allipade here was inaugurated on Monday April 13.
Bishop of Mangaluru Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza inaugurated and blessed the new building in the presence of MLC Ivan D'Souza and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, the bishop congratulated the school management and stressed on the importance of providing quality education to children. "Progress and positive changes in society are possible when everybody has access to quality education and values," he said.
He further said that Christian institutions provide education as a service to society, and hence everyone should join hands to support this noble cause.
Ivan D'Souza in his address said that an educated person is an asset to the nation. He also lauded Christian institutions for providing quality education through centuries.
District incharge minister Ramanath Rai stressed on the importance of providing education to all regardless of language or religion, and said it was the duty of the elected representatives to ensure this.
A felicitation ceremony was also held where bishop Dr Aloysius, Ramanath Rai and Ivan D'Souza and many others were honoured.
Prior to the inauguration, the Eucharist was celebrated by the bishop in the presence of several priests. A colourful 'horekanike' procession was also held.
Fr Maxim Noronha, Modankapu, Mangaluru Catholic Education Society secretary Gerald D' Souza, Benjamin Pinto Agrar, Provincial Sr Nasriza Sequeira, district-in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai, district panchayat member Girija Rama, taluk panchayat member Vilasini Shanthaveera Poojary, Sampath Kumar Shetty, Sarapady gram panchayat president Dhananjay Shetty, Navoor gram panchayat president Baby Suvarna, school convener Gregory Pereira, school development committee president Narayana Shetty, headmistress Dulcine Fernandes, and parent-teacher association vice-president Leo Fernandes were present.
Brief History
About 90 years ago, the then parish priest of Agrar church Fr Reginald Pinto, who saw the hardships faced by children who had to walk miles to obatain education, started this school in a grass hut in 1927. The school started to impart education to children regardless of religion, caste or creed. Louis was the first teacher in the school.
The Allipade parish dedicated to St Antony came into existence on August 5, 1938. Fr Louis Furtado became the first parish priest and school convener. The institute grew by giving disciplined education and recording good results and hence became a symbol of pride. The students who have come out after getting quality education are spending their life filled with values and remember that they are the old students of the school.
Though the school started in a hut, later a building with tiles was built to accommodate the school. Vast playground, drinking water facility, computer training, Balavadi centre, library, band set and training, training in extracurricular activities, Bisiyoota facility, new auditorium, and loudspeaker facility were introduced one by one. Talent awards came, collection of funds for education happened and above all excellent faculty contributed to the growth of small sapling into a large tree.
Contributions from people
If the citizens make it a point, a hut can be converted into a temple. A barren land can be converted into cultivated land. If hundred hands join a resourceful brain, hundred percent results are possible.
There are many people who have struggled hard for the great things to happen in this small village.
The correspondents who have worked for the school since the inception are Fr Louis Furtado, Fr Gilbert Pinto, Fr Michael M Pereira, Fr William Fernandes, Fr Mark Veigas, Fr Ignatius D'Souza, Fr Alban D'Souza, Fr Henry Sequeira, Fr Alexander Lobo, Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas, Fr Walter D'Souza and present correspondent Fr Gregory Pereira.
The correspondents who worked here were examples for adventures. They had untiring enthusiasm. They had sacrificed their needs and desires to make the institute grow and blossom. It now glows as eternal light.
The institute in this rural area faced several hardships. However the correspondents have shown that struggle leads to success.
Fr Gregory Pereira, present correspondent is conducting all the work in the institute since 2011 competently. He has proved that strong determination is required for achievement. He started the project of huge building soon after his arrival, and with the contribution and efforts of many, made it a reality.
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