(ANS – Calcutta) – The 2nd National Educational Conference of Don Bosco Schools (NECDBS) India and General Assembly of Don Bosco Schools India Forum, began on Friday, 28 September, 2012 at Don Bosco Park Circus, Kolkata, and closed on Monday, 1 October, with 160 principals of Salesian Schools from the various Salesian provinces of India.
 
In the meeting were also present: the Governor of West Bengal and the Secretary for School Education; Fr. Rev. Fr. Maria Arokiam Kanaga, Regional Councillor for South Asia; Thomas Ellicherail, Salesian Provincial of Kolkata; Fr. V M Thomas, Provincial of Guwahati; mgr. Thomas D’Souza, Archbishop of Kolkata; Fr. Maria Charles, Secretary of Don Bosco Youth Animation; Fr. Miguel Angel Garcia a member of the Youth Pastoral Department.
 
Fr. Miguel Angel Garcia gave a meaningful speech and proposed 3 strategies for the future: to get to know and exchange the “best practices” among the Salesians from the various schools; to strengthen the formation of our “governing body”  from the pedagogical or from the point of view of our charism; to deepen our Preventive System of Education among the youth, and develop an appropriate and adequate ministry to the challenges in the world of the youth.
 
The conference emphasized “Emerging Trends in Education”, new methods of reaching out to the young, providing them with better openness and learning, and above all leading them to a wide and Christian understanding of the world. Other highlights of the conference are new trends in education technology and new publications.

The central theme “Emerging Trends in Education” engendered a lot of interest as the sessions were more practical than theoretical, providing help to the educationalists dealing with current school issues. The sessions included also presentation of reports from the various provinces.

The proceedings of this national conference focusing on the child as the centre of our educational concerns will be a significant step in realizing the vision and mission Salesians have set for themselves.
 
Published on 08/10/2012