Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, Oct 14: St Ann's Teacher Training Institute celebrated its post-centenary silver jubilee on Wednesday October 14 at St Ann's High School hall near Rosario Cathedral.

The formal ceremony began with a prayer song, followed by a welcome dance by students of St Ann's High School.

Addressing the gathering, health minister U T Khader said, "If we compare Dakshina Kannada district with other districts in education, it is like we are in heaven. We are more intelligent than people of other districts. We have to thank the nuns for their relentless service in the field of education which helped us to reach this position. If our country should become strong, then children have to be educated. Like a brother, I will help this institute to overcome all obstacles.

"Education gives us the ability to speak or interact with others in a better manner. Face the problems without any fear. You need to have patience all the time. The problems which you face in your life are like signal lights. When the light turns red, it means you have problems and when you have solved the problems, the signal turns green and then you move on. Try to accept your problems. Teachers have the great ability to mould the mindsets of children," he added.

Rosario Church parish priest Fr J B Crasta said, "Teachers who are trained here go to villages and train the poor kids and educate them. This process was started more than 100 years ago. This institute is striving to spread the education to every corner of our country."

Asha M S, senior lecturer, District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Mangaluru and Fr J B Crasta distributed prizes to the winners of various events.

Addressing the gathering, Asha M S said, "St Ann’s TTI has always been giving very good training for teachers. I have a close relationship with this institute because my primary education was done in a convent in Mysuru and I know how disciplined everyone is in convents."

Mangaluru city mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred released 'Prajnana' book. "Everyone says that this is a very good institute. Whoever has studied in this institute has become a responsible citizen," she said.

Former principals Sr M Louelle and Sr Marie Louelle were felicitated by the dignitaries.

Sr Maria Shubha, principal of St Ann’s TTI, welcomed the gathering.

Prior to the formal stage programme, a thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration was held where bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza was the main celebrant.

Sr Agatha Mary, the former superior general of Apostolic Carmel, Sr Edna Furtado, corporator Abdul Lathif, Sr M Adelcia, Catherine D'Souza, Sr M Shalini, Flavy Fernandes, Farisa Thasleema and others were present.

St Ann's Teacher Training Institute - A brief history

It was Mother Veronica who started a branch of the Carmelite Order which engaged in the education of young girls along the west coast of India. The Congregation founded at Bayonne, France in 1868 and transplanted in Mangaluru in 1870, took root and set up St Ann’s School.

Mary Piedade Rosario (Sr Mary Aloysia) played an important role in laying a deep foundation for the education of girls in Mangaluru. Under Sister Aloysia’s skilful management, St Ann’s School progressed rapidly. Since the school was producing good teachers, the director of public instruction, acting on the suggestion of Bradshaw, the acting inspector requested the management in 1880-1882, to open a training school at St Ann’s School, in order that the training received by its teachers could be extended to other schools.

In 1888, the director of public instruction reiterated his request for a training school at St Ann’s, with the promise of a liberal grant. Finding that the request could no longer be put off, Sr Aloysia and two other sisters were sent to the training school at Madras. They returned to Mangaluru with flying colours, Sr Aloysia having secured the first place in Madras Presidency.

In 1890, the training class was formally opened by Carr, the first inspectress of the girls' schools. Sr Aloysia played the double role as headmistress of the practicing school and training mistress of the training school. At the end of the first year, Carr was able to give a laudable report, which was a tangible proof of the quality of work turned out by the training school.

Up to 1907, the secondary and elementary teacher training students were taught in the same class. Later the elementary teacher training students had separate classes for the methods of teaching the subjects of the lower classes. In 1908, Lynch, the Inspectress, requested that, in accordance with the regulation for training schools, the practicing school should function separately, with its own headmistress.

Sr Aloysia was elected as superior general of the Apostolic Carmel congregation in 1909. Sr Beatrice took her place in the Training School and then there followed a succession of headmistresses / superintendents, 21 in all, who put their hand to the wheel to steer the barque of St Ann’s Training School.

St Ann’s Training School for Teachers was converted into a Basic Training School for Teachers in 1960 as a result of change in policy of the education department. In1976, the Basic Training School changed its name to Teacher’s Training Institution (TTI). The post-centenary era saw further growth and development in the institution, and in 2007, the NCTE permitted St Ann’s TTI to start the English medium section. The teachers trained here, ever since it was started, have gone far and wide in India and even aboard.