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Panbazar, Guwahati, Assam
Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal, SDB, with the School Principals of the Guwahati Province.
DBSEM Principals’ Meet Reaffirms Salesian Commitment to Child Protection and Value-Based Education
News written by: Mukhim Bivan [ING]
The Don Bosco School Excellence Mission (DBSEM) Principals’ Meet was held on January 23 at Mario Hall, Provincial House, Panbazar, Guwahati, bringing together Principals of Salesian institutions under the Province of Mary Help of Christians, Guwahati. Centred on the theme “Children Against Child Abuse (CACA),” the meeting focused on strengthening the Salesian commitment to child protection, holistic formation, and value-based education in response to contemporary challenges faced by young people.
Addressing the gathering, Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal SDB, Provincial, reaffirmed the mission and educational vision of the Salesians, reminding Principals that the essence of the Salesian vocation is “to be educators of the young in order to form them to be honest citizens.” In the context of North East India, he observed that the region is rich in youthful potential, with many young people seeking a life greater than themselves. In this context, he emphasised the need for proper knowledge, guidance, and accompaniment to help the young make responsible and meaningful life choices.
Fr. Sebastian strongly underlined that children must always remain at the centre of every educational endeavour. Drawing attention to the foundational principles of Don Bosco, he highlighted the Preventive System as the heart of Salesian education. “Don Bosco has given us the Preventive System, and no education is possible without the value of love,” he said, adding that children in Salesian institutions must experience genuine care and affection. He urged Principals to ensure that collaborators and teaching staff are constantly reminded of their responsibility to love and care for the young entrusted to them. “By being with the young, we can prevent them from doing wrong things,” he remarked, encouraging Principals to take pride in the Salesian system of education and to grow continually in their educational mission.
Fr. Jayaprakash Anthonimuthu SDB, Economer, addressed the gathering on key administrative and safeguarding matters. He stressed the mandatory implementation of a clear and effective Child Protection Policy in all Salesian schools, noting that appointment letters for newly recruited staff should explicitly include this policy. Emphasising leadership by presence, he reminded Principals that their role extends far beyond administrative duties. “The role of the Principal is not only to sit in the chair, but to walk around and see the day-to-day running of the school,” he said. He also informed the Principals that all schools are expected to move towards online collection of fees, book sales, and related services by the end of the scholastic year.
The programme also benefited from an input session by the resource person, Mr Pradeep, who addressed practical issues related to child protection in the school context, in line with the meeting's theme. The programme was sponsored by Madhuban Publishers, whose support was gratefully acknowledged.
Rev. Fr. Alex Kattakayam SDB, Coordinator of DBSEM, formally welcomed Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal, the resource person, and all the Principals, thanking them for their presence and active participation. The meeting served as a timely reaffirmation of the Salesian commitment to a loving, preventive, and value-based educational approach rooted in the charism and spirit of Don Bosco.
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