(ANS – Darjeeling) – An inter-continental seminar was held in Darjeeling, India, from 14th to 17th February 2014, bringing together scholars, academicians and educationists to deliberate on the challenges and responses from different cultural contexts addressing the issue of education and social inclusion. This is the third meeting in a series of four organized by the Salesian Institutions of Higher Education (IUS) to promote reflection on this issue.
The Seminar was held at the Sonada Campus of the Salesian College, an educational institution in the sub-Himalayan region of Darjeeling, celebrating this year its platinum jubilee of foundation.
The seminar was inaugurated by Fr. Thomas Ellicherail SDB, Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Kolkata. The participants deliberated in detail on the question of social inclusion from the different regional, linguistic, religious and cultural perspectives so as to get a full picture of how society can be better understood and organized and to decide where immediate action was required.
Dr Bro. Mario Olmos SDB, IUS General Coordinator, Rome, gave the presidential address on “Social Exclusion and Violence in Guatemala and El Salvador: Contributions to Education for a Culture of Peace.” He stressed the positive role of education in building peace.
The Keynote address was by Padma Bhushan recipient Dr T.K. Oommen, Professor Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. In delineating the various levels of social exclusion, Prof. Oommen argued that while diversity needs to be promoted, what is lethal and to be squarely addressed is a combination of diversity and inequality.
There were papers presented by national and international participants on sub-themes such as: Social Inclusion and Exclusion among Various Tribes; Role of Institutions in promoting Social Inclusion; Education and Culture; Social Inclusion and Youth; Towards Inclusive Education; Social Exclusion and its Impact; Social Inclusion and Diversity in Education; and Inclusion/Exclusion: Challenges of Diversity.
Prof. Aditya Mukherjee, from the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, addressed the plenary session on the topic “Communalism and Caste in the Indian Education System: From the Colonial to the Post-Colonial”, and emphasized the need for a universal, inclusive and secular education.
Prof. Fr George Thadathil (Principal, Salesian College, Sonada-Siliguri), Dr. Carlos Nanni (Vice-Chancellor, Pontifical University, Rome), Romane Fortes Santos (Vice-Rector, UNISAL) and Fr. Dr. Juan Sabino sdb (Coordinator, IUS, Spain) led the different sessions.
The final Intercontinental Seminar will be held in Venice, Italy in November 2014. The reflections developed over the two-year period will represent the contributions of Salesian University Centres around the world for the bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth in 2015.
Published 24/02/2014
