Study and launch of the Revision of the “All India catholic Education 2007” begins in the Tribal heartland
Even as His Excellency Bishop Charles Soreng took wings to return to his heavenly abode, the “All India Catholic Education Policy 2007” for which he had made outstanding contribution in the years 2005 to 2007 as the Chairman Bishop of the CBCI Commission for Education and Culture, was being studied at length and in depth by the heads of schools in the tribal heartland in Jharkhand with the Bishops presiding over the meetings.
12th January, 2019: Meeting of the Heads of Schools at Khunti, Jharkhand:
Some 150 heads of schools accompanied by senior teachers participated at the day long study of the “All India Catholic Education Policy 2007” animated by Fr. Joseph Manipadam SDB. The special study to imbibe the content of the Policy at length at this time once again, after ten years was in view of initiating the revision of the Policy since a number of significant developments had taken place in the area of education in the country. For example when the “All India catholic Education Policy 2007” was promulgated, there was no “Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE)” bill; there was no “Loudato Si”; there was no “POCSO 2012”; there was no “Women’s Safety at Work Place” bill; there was no App based learning or Home study concept; there was no social media effect etc. Fr. Leo Bengra, the diocesan Director for education had convened the meeting which was attended by heads of Diocesan schools as well as schools run by Religious Congregations. The meeting was held from 10.00A.M. to 4.00 P.M.
14th January 2019: Launching the study and revision of the all India Catholic Education Policy in the Diocese of Simdega, Jharkhand:
Simdega perhaps has the biggest Tribal Catholic presence in the country. Some 200 or more heads of catholic Schools along with the teachers attended the day long intense study in view of revision of the “All India catholic Education Policy 2007” on 14th January 2019. Most Rev. Vincent Barua, the Bishop of Simdega and the Chairman Bishop for Education for Jharkhand Region presided over the meeting right through and addressed the participants twice, to begin the sessions and then to conclude. Fr. Joseph Manipadam animated the programme clearly highlighting the salient features of the Policy and showing the need for a revision now after ten years. He also gave an idea of the effectiveness of implementation of the Catholic Education Policy and showed how more than 7000 institutions have been evaluated and certified assessing the efforts made by each institution in implementing the Catholic Education Policy. He also pointed out that the Catholic Education Policy was clearly to uplift the poor and the marginalized section of society on preferential basis and the national effectiveness of implementation of the Catholic Education Policy by the Catholic institutions was well over 60%.