The coordinators of the Constitutional Rights Education (CRE) of schools in Madurai Province held the annual review and planning meeting at St. Mary’s, Madurai on 9 December 2024. CRE programme, designed and promoted by Vaan Muhil, an NGO based in Tirunelveli, is being implemented in all our schools for VII standard students during one of the value education periods every week. Each school has a lay coordinator to actively spearhead this programme. Mr. Britto, Director, Vaan Muhil, Mr. Priya, state-level CRE trainer and Mr. Ganesan, programme coordinator animated and guided the participants in this meeting.
We evaluated the execution of this programme, shared success stories, discussed difficulties and decided to actively promote this programme. Students have begun to critically question the existing unjust systems and practices, rationalize and express themselves confidently, showcasing their growing awareness of rights, guaranteed by our Constitution. It is definitely making an impact among our students in social consciousness and commitment and prepares them to become enlightened citizens, aware of the constitutional rights, their violations and ways and means to protect them. It was decided to get sufficient resource materials for this programme. The teachers, handling CRE, will have their full-fledged training on 21st June, 2025 in Madurai.
CLAP to Prepare Lay Leadership
Five senior staff members from each schools have been selected to undergo the capacity building training continuously. The Collaborators’ Leadership Advancement Programme (CLAP) has eight two-day trainings, spread over the next one and half year. Our staff would undergo these trainings and become potential options for leadership positions in our schools. The first programme of CLAP was an Ignatian retreat to go deep and understand oneself was conducted on 14–15 December at Thozhamai Illam, animated and guided by Frs. Britto Peter and Arul Sivan. Besides some input sessions, there were opportunities for delving deep into oneself, in the background of St. Ignatius’ life and mission and candid sharing on their personal successes and struggles. There are seven more two-day modules to be completed. CLAP has a team of eight resource persons, both Jesuits and others. This is the first of its kind in our South Asian Conference.
Hostel Directors' Meeting
School hostel directors' meeting was organized on 29 December 2024 at St. Joseph’s College, Trichy. Hostel directors shared on the ways, means and programmes promoting and providing all round formation, some good and healthy practices, cherishing moments, and challenges, problems and difficulties. We were called to concentrate on the following aspects, in the hostels as part of the revamping process after the evaluation of our schools: facilities, space, ventilation, sanitary aspects, food, counselling, addressing the grievances of the students and active students’ engagement in discussion and decision making in the hostel. Quality time was spent to address these issues and came up with some viable solutions. It was an enriching and mutual learning meeting.
S.M. John Kennedy
