Service par Excellence
“Only six percent of the population has access to Higher Education and we should think on the lines of embracing vocational training. Vocational training will be especially of great help to those from economically lower classes” opined Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Oscar Fernandes.
Speaking at the ‘Grand finale' of the Post Centenary Silver Jubilee Celebrations of St Aloysius College Institutions he lauded the Centre's decision to set aside six to seven percent grant for education in the budget as a revolutionary step. He also stressed the need to increase the number of women literates and raise the standard of Education in India to that of International Standards.
Outlining the vision for the Institutions, the Rector Rev Fr Francis Serrao said that the campus had grown to the extent of a veritable city on the hill spreading the light of knowledge like a true beacon of hope.
He stated that the Institution had planned a second campus on the outskirts of the City where the Postgraduate courses could be located .He also briefed about having an extension of the College in Harihar, which is educationally backward.
Citing a third project on the anvil He stated the soon to be constructed central library which will be open for the general public. There are plans to start postgraduate courses in Counselling, Psychology and Analytical Chemistry.
Blasius M Dsouza, MLC, an alumni releasing the konkani konkani dictionaryHailed the college for starting konkani as second language .He said that the college not only imparted education but also taught moral values and leadership qualities. He expressed his dissatisfaction about the college of being deprieved of the status of autonomy, let alone the status of deemed university. Further He appealed to the Union Ministers and State Ministers including the VC to see to it that the college is granted this status.
Prof B Hanumaiah, Vice Chancellor after releasing the Souvenir lauded the College for the commendable service to the region and for a number of Scholars it has produced.
Rev Dr Aloysius Paul Souza, Bishop of Mangalore who graced the occasion said that the Institution had been a great boon and that the people of Canada were indebted for the thousands of great Industrialists, Statesmen, Bureaucrats, government officials, IAS officers, politicans, MP's, MLA's, judges, ambassadors Bishops and heads of various religious orders.
Sonia Gandhi, the President of All India Congress Committee and chairperson of UPA in a message said that St Aloysius had a long tradition of excellence in academic standards as well as inculcated spirit of service in its students .She also expressed her appreciation for the open doors it kept for the needy students.
The dignitaries present on the occasion were Rev Fr Vijay Kumar Prabhu, the provincial of the Karnataka Jesuit Province , State Chief Whip K Abhayachandra Jain, MLA's Yogish Bhat, Nagaraj Shetty, and Former Minister B Ramanath Rai, past students and their parents and the Alumni. Rev Fr Eugene Lobo, Principal welcomed the gathering.
Report By: Loy M Fernandes, III BA
Photo: Fr Denzil Lobo SJ