Articles

Contributions of the Catholic Church towards Education in the Brahmaputra Valley

Opinion | Articles | Luke Daimari | 15-Nov-2020

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Introduction

 The credit for introduction and growth of a regular system of education in India goes to the British. In 1781, the East India Company for the first time set up a Madrassa at Calcutta and later opened similar institutions for the Hindus at Benaras.1 However the attitude of the English East India Company was one of indifference. The important step towards development of a regular system of education came with the passing of the Chartered Act of 1813 which made education a responsibility of the company’s government and set apart an amount of Rs. One lac for education purpose.2 But a controversy arose as to how the money sanctioned was to be spent. There were two schools of thoughts. The first one was the Anglicist who favoured western education and the other the Orientalist who wanted native style education through vernacular. The controversy was resolved by William Bentinck who in a resolution on 7th march 1835 declared.” The great object of the British government ought to be the promotion of literature and science amongst the natives and that the fund appropriates for education should be best employed on English Education alone.”3 The declaration gave a fillip to the vision and mission of the missionaries who under the provision of the Act, came to India to preach Christianity and in the process opened schools in different parts of the country.

Arrival of Catholic Missionaries in Assam

 In Assam, amongst the missionaries the Baptists were the first to arrive and they have the credit of being the pioneer of modern education in the state. The Catholics came to Assam much later. However,, as early as 1627, two Jesuits, Stephen Carchella and John Cabral, visited Assam on their way to Tibet.4 After over two centuries in1850 a few French missionaries arrived at Gauhati enroute Tibet.5 The very next year another missionary, Krick by name, visited Nogaon and stayed two months and proceeded to Tibet via Sadia. But unfortunately, he was killed by the Mishmi tribe on his way.6 In 1872, Fr Jacopo Bray, an Italian Catholic priest landed at Gauhati to look after Catholic community, but after 18 years of stay he left Assam and India. In 1890 under Bengal Mission some German Missionaries belonging to the German Society of Catholic education arrived at Gauhati. The group wanted to set up a mission station at Gauhati but had to give up the plan because they were asked to proceed to Shillong because the Khasis were more receptive of christianity.7 In 1908, Fr, Rudolf  Fountaine, a German Salvatorian missionary opened a mission centre at Dibrugarh, but the outbreak of the World War-I forced all Germans to leave India. By 1921 the apostolate of Assam was entrusted to the Society of Salestians of Don Bosco.8 Under the Salesians, evangelical activities kept expanding and the number of mission centers and schools increased. Therefore to affect a better organization and efficiency definite areas were carved out and placed under a leader of a local priest called Bishop. The areas under a Bishop is called diocese. In Brahmaputra valley there are four dioceses viz, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Gauhati, Bongaigaon and Diphu. Through these dioceses local churches are governed.

 Why the Church open schools?

 When the missionaries arrived, schools were opened to educate pupils in Christianity by making them able to read and understand the bible.9 J.P Naik, in his book’ Social Context of Education’ said that the Christians started educational centers to secure converts from their pupils and preach the Gospel to the upper classes to whom they had hardly any other words means of approach.10 But, today under article 30 of the Indian Constitution, which entitles religious minorities to open and manage educational institutions of their choice, Catholic Churches open schools because schools are the centers of formation of children. The Church recognizes its responsibility towards society and instills values for a just society. According to Vatican council-II, ‘School is a centre in which a specific concept of the world, of man and history is developed and conveyed,”11 With the mission and the article 30 of the Indian Constitution as its safeguard, Catholic Church establish schools wherever and whenever possible and gave the best education.

Characteristics of Catholic Schools

 Schools that are  managed and run by the Catholic Church are known as Catholic schools, There are several religious groups of men and women within the Catholic church and run schools based on Catholic principle, that “all men, irrespective of their race , condition, age have a right to education and education should be suitable to the particular destiny of the individual and adopted to their ability, sex and natural cultural traditions and should be conducive to friendly relation with other nations,”12 Catholic schools are close to religion because the teaching and administration are based on the teaching of Gospel. They provide an atmosphere where the Gospel values of freedom, love, just society and dedication are attached importance. Infect, the Church demands that a Catholic school be efficient in catering knowledge to the children. E.F. Schumacher says,” development does not start with goods; it starts with people and their education, organization, and discipline.”13 Therefore, catholic schools put emphasis on discipline and punctuality. They are also well organized and success oriented. Students are made to work hard. They provide an opportunity for forming study habit. They include a lot of extra-curricular activities in the school academic programmes. Games and sports, recitations, essay writings, singing, dancing, extempore speech, skits, drama etc. are part of their extra-curricular activities. Catholic churches recognize the role of the parents in nurturing the intellectual abilities, their judgment, sense of values and career in life. Keeping them in view, all Catholic schools celebrate parents’ day when all parents are invited to watch their children’s creative and artistic performance on stage. The importance of inter-personal relationship between students, teachers and school authorities is given. The headmaster/headmistress tries to know every student by name and thus establishes a warm but respectful relationship between students, teachers and school authorities. Catholic schools also provide enough open space for play ground with trees planted around. Most of their buildings are of R.C.C structures with sufficient rooms for computer facilities, libraries and even indoor games. These factors create an environment that enables students to achieve success.

 Scholastic Achievement

 Catholic schools identify themselves uniquely in the academic scenario. They have high pass percentage in the H.S.L.C and C.B.S.E examinations. In all, there are so far 107 Catholic schools spread all over the Brahmaputra valley. Of them 56 schools have classes up to X. Every year 56 schools record 95% to 100% pass result in the H.S.L.C examinations. The high scholastic achievement is not confined to the English medium schools alone. Even the Assamese medium schools have recorded similar pass percentage. eg, Don Bosco School, Dhekiajuli registered 100% pass result in the last H.S.L.C examination. The schools situated in the remote tribal areas such as, Sacred Heart School Udalguri, Sacred Heart School Rowta, Don Bosco School Bengtol, Francilian School Jonai etc. have recorded 98% to 100 % pass result in the H.S.L.C examinations.

 What are the reasons for their high success rate?

 It is not that they have the best students and best teachers. The schools situated in the rural or semi-urban areas are peopled by average students and also as private schools they do not pay handsome salaries. Therefore good teachers do not join in them even on short term basis. So basically, the successes in Catholic schools are mainly due to guidance and administration of the management. Catholic Church administers schools in a way that makes all method, skills, and strategies to develop study habits. For scholastic success a student has to be studious and must realize their necessity to study. They also recognize every individual’s ambition and encourage students to do better and bring out the best out of them. They play the role of providing a congenial atmosphere where students can learn and strive for realizing their goals. Church also involves the family for physical and psychological support of their wards. It is the family who chooses a school for a child. A family is responsible to give proper educational facilities to a child. Thus, application of effective study methods, encouragement of ambitions, supported by schools and then family, the students in Catholic schools outshine in their scholastic achievements. Catholic schools, today, distinguish themselves from other schools not only in high pass percentage but also in the development of wholesome personality. They attach importance to the teachings and moral lessons, punctuality, discipline, work culture, study habits, extra-curricular activities and building of self confidence. To quote Rev. Fr. K.A. Thomas, “In a Catholic School, students are taught to rest content with superficial academic pursuit, but to consciously search for truth. They are helped to critically examine statements; knowing fully well that blind acceptance of ideas further enslaves them”.14 These are important reasons why many parents prefer Catholic schools to others.

 Suggestion and conclusions

 In a word of corruption and dishonesty, Catholic schools stand with their heads held high. They promote prudence, honesty, hard work and sacrifice. Nation needs institutions like them to form pillars to build a just society. Therefore Catholic schools should be established more in numbers. In view of the excellent performance, the Catholic schools’ management and its dedication to school well-being should be made transparent so that other schools can also function on the same line and effect better result. Government should help and encourage such schools in tribal and backward areas. The Government should organize interreligious dialogues in order to clarify all misgivings and misunderstandings in the minds of the people about the Church. To conclude, one may opine that the prosperity and development of Assam will depend on organization like Catholic Church which is contributing much to the society while trying to create a society of morality, intellects, justice and peace and harmony.

  ENDNOTES

  1. C. Roychoudhary – History of Modern India, Surjeet Publication, New Delhi 1990, p/156
  2. K. Barpujari, - Political History of Assam Govt of Assam, Dispur, Guwahati, 1997 p.105
  3. C. Agarwal - Constitutional Development and NationalMovement of India S.Chand &
                 Company Ltd, Delhi-11055, p. xxi
  4. R. Desai - Social Backgound of Indian Nationalism, Bombay, Popular Prakashan, Re-  print, 1998 Mumbai,0004 p. 146
  5. .Dr. Kottu Pall - ‘A Historical Surney of Catholic Church in the North East’ Centenary of the Catholic Church in the North East India’ Souvenir (Shillong arch Bishop’s house, 1990), p. 7
  6. Becker - Early History of the Catholic Mission in Northeast India Shillong, Ventrene Ministrate Publications, 1989 p. 105 - 111, 150 – 151
  7. Ibid
  8. Ibid
  9. ibid
  10. ibid
  11. ibid
  12. P., Austin Flannery,(Ed.) - Vatican Council II, more post Conciliar Documents, Bombay, St. Paul’s Publications, 1992, p.60
  13. A. Laird, - Missionaries and Education in Bengol in 1793-1873 London, Oxford University Press, 1973 p/1-5
  14. P. Naik - Social Context of Education, p. 230-233
  15. .M.B.Chokrobarty - A study of Certain correlates of scholastic Achievements of students in Catholic mission Schools, NED Social forum, Guwahati 1999 p.159

 (The Author is a Principal in a Government College in Assam, and can be reached on udalguricollege1979@gmail.com. Views expressed are personal)

 

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