190 teachers from 6 Salesian schools access continuing education

(MissionNewswire) Salesian St. Xavier High School, located in the village of Pathaliaghat in the state of Tripura, India, hosted a two-day education course for teachers in Salesian schools in the region. The event was attended by 190 teachers, five principals and five rectors.

A Salesian said, “This meeting is the result of a joint effort of all six Salesian schools in the region, under the leadership of Father Babu Stephen, head of education and culture for the Salesian Shillong Province. These two days of education were of great help to the teachers involved, who learned a lot from the sessions and from the group discussions. Teachers were motivated to engage in active teaching and learning and to cultivate student well-being.”

Salesian missionaries educate more than 1 million youth in over 5,500 schools and youth centers and nearly 1,000 vocational, technical, and agricultural schools in more than 130 countries around the globe. Continuing education is vital to ensure that teachers are educating students from best-in-practice standards and have the support they need are essential components in creating a productive school environment.

“Teachers play an important role in the lives of poor youth in Salesian schools,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Teachers know Salesian students are facing more than just accessing education. Some of the youth they teach were previously living and working on the streets, and others are facing abuse and neglect at home. Salesian teachers meet these challenges head-on, providing education and hope for a brighter future.”

India has the world’s fourth largest economy but more than 22% of the country lives in poverty. About 31% of the world’s multidimensionally poor children live in India, according to a report by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative.

India’s youth face a lack of educational opportunities due to issues of caste, class and gender. Almost 44% of the workforce is illiterate and less than 10% of the working-age population has completed a secondary education. In addition, many secondary school graduates do not have the knowledge and skills to compete in today’s changing job market.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – India – A formation course for teachers at Salesian schools

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India