After imparting higher education in India for over 150 years,
a deep churning of thought and self-introspection is taking
place within Christian educational institutions of higher
learning. They want to respond to the overwhelming changes
taking place in every sphere of Indian society.
Concerned that the purpose of education has been reduced to
getting high-paying jobs, leading Christian colleges in the
county want to re-focus on ethics and values that will help
students make greater contribution to national development and
social welfare.
“We want more Abdul Kalams (St. Joseph’s College, Trichy) and
Jyoti Basus (St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata) to pass
out of our institutions,” Lancy Pereira, former principal of
St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, said while referring to the
contributions made by the former President and the Communist
stalwart from West Bengal.
Pointing out that prestigious colleges such as St. Xavier’s in
Mumbai and Kolkata, Loyola (Chennai) and St. Stephens (Delhi)
had produced a steady stream of eminent professionals and
sportstars, Jesuit educationists like Pereira said they want
to see more of their students devote themselves to national
development and poverty alleviation.
More than 40 principals of prestigious Christian colleges
shared their views at a conference, `Science & technology
developments and the need for religious values in higher
education’, here recently.
“The role of Christian educational institutions is a
challenge, whereby education is a privilege for all and social
values are not compromised,” said Melba Rodrigues, principal
of St. Bede’s College, Shimla.
Stating that inculcating values was not easy “as the new
generation lives in a materialistic world that is far from
God”, Rodrigues describe the current situation as an
“educational emergency” as society and culture “doubt the
goodness of life, the validity of relationships and the need
for responsibilities”.
Pandikattu Kuruvilla, who teaches science, philosophy and
religion, stressed the need “for a new vision for education”.
Pointing out that Christian schools and colleges were still
among the best in India, he said Christian educationists now
felt the need to create a counter-culture and an alternative
vision among their students “who will strive for social
change”.
Anthony Cernera, president of the International Federation of
Catholic Universities (IFCU), said one of his main concerns is
to encourage member-colleges to “find new ways of asserting
fundamental human values”. Stating that he was proud of the
achievements of Christian institutions over the last 150
years, Cernera said their goal was now to “become better for
the next generations.”
Pereira added: “We are now facing the challenge of finding a
new system of education. How do we get a student to say that
Indian is my responsibility? Since we have a great reputation,
we also have a higher responsibility.”
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