Tura: Tura scored an academic high with one of its most revered educational institutions, the Don Bosco Higher Secondary School having celebrated its diamond jubilee on Wednesday in the presence of the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr Mukul Sangma and a host of other dignitaries.
The school, an enterprising venture of one of Garo Hills most respected Salesian missionaries, Fr. Anthony Buccieri, started in 1957 to further the cause of education in Garo hills, overcame multiple challenges and difficult odds to reach its present status.
The journey of Don Bosco from Lower Primary School to Higher Secondary has been a long and arduous with a handful of students at the time of its inception to about 2000 students at present. In 1998, the school started its evening section to cater to the educational needs of the marginalized youth.
Over the years, the school has produced luminaries in different fields be they politicians, academicians, bureaucrats, sports personalities, including former Lok Sabha speaker Late Purno Agitok Sangma.
Apart from imparting education, the school has always laid its thrust on co-curricular activities, the imprints of which are seen till date.
The yearlong celebration saw different cultural and co-curricular activities including a rock concert by renowned band of Garo hills – Riprap. The curtain for the celebration came to a close with a cultural and musical evening.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma graced the occasion as chief guest and laid the foundation for the Diamond Jubilee Indoor Stadium in presence of Bishop of Tura Rev Andrew R. Marak, Salesian Provincial Fr. Vattathara Thomas and Vice Provincial Fr. Januarius S. Sangma. He also gave away token of appreciation to past Principal and Vice-Principal of the school and released the souvenir of the school.
On the occasion North Tura MLA Noverfield Marak, chief executive member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council Boston Marak and member of council Righteous Marak felicitated the founding teaching staffs for the contribution and dedicated service to the growth and welfare of the school.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief minister Mukul Sangma expressed his deep sense of appreciation to the Don Bosco Society for the establishment of the school at Tura, which at that point of time must have seemed an uphill task.
“Don Bosco has provided an access to quality education in Garo hills. The alumni of this great institution have heralded a transformative change in the society”, lauded the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister sought for collaborative partnership with Salesian schools in a bid to provide access to quality education in Meghalaya and urged the Don Bosco Society to contemplate on the establishing of a Don Bosco University in Garo hills.
He reminded that about 10 years ago, Meghalaya passed the Bill for establishment of private Universities in the state but the Don Bosco Society did not consider setting up of the Universities in the state.
“I request and urge upon the Salesian society to establish the University and cater to the needs of higher education in Meghalaya”, exhorted chief minister, while stating that education can create a “positive narrative” in promoting a region and a place for tourism.
“The alumni can become readymade partners in disseminating the positive narrative”, he said.
He informed that the government has accorded the highest budget for education but still it was not being able to meet the challenge and demands for access to quality and development of education in the state.
“There is always a constraint of resources for the government to better the education services in the state. We want to redress the grievances of the education sector but have always been confronted with challenges”, the Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma said.