Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 1103/17

TURA DON BOSCO SCHOOL CELEBRATES 60 GLORIOUS YEARS OF EXISTENCE

Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Tura, one of the premier institutions in the State, celebrated 60 glorious years of its existence amidst jubilation, pomp and grandeur on Wednesday, which was graced by Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma as the chief guest. It may be mentioned that this institution which is one of the oldest missionary schools in Garo Hills, was started in 1957 as a lower primary school by Late Rev. Fr. Anthony Buccieri, SDB, an Italian missionary with the objective to further the cause of education in Garo hills, which at that point of time had to face multiple challenges and difficult situations. In 1964 it was upgraded to a high school level and later in 1988, Don Bosco Night School was opened to cater to educational needs of the working boys. The present-day Higher Secondary section was started in 2014. The school has produced luminaries and prominent leaders, including former Lok Sabha Speaker, Late P. A. Sangma and former ministers late L A Sangma and Late Cyprian R Sangma besides numerous officers, doctors, engineers as well as successful entrepreneurs. The institution is well known for providing good facilities for games and sports, athletics, music and other curricular activities with fair amount of success in board examinations. The school, which made a humble beginning with a handful of students, today has over 2000 students.

Besides the Chief Minister, the Jubilee celebration was also attended by the Bishop of Tura, Rt. Rev. Andrew R Marak and Salesian Provincial of Guwahati, Fr. V M Thomas as the guests of honour, local MLA & Parliamentary Secretary, N.R. Marak, CEM GHADC, Boston Marak, other dignitaries and prominent citizens of Tura, former principals, past pupils and parents. To mark the occasion, the Chief Minister unveiled the memorial plaque for construction of Indoor Stadium of the School to mark the Diamond Jubilee year and also announced support from the government for its construction. He also gave away token of appreciation to the past Principals, Vice-Principals and Headmasters of the school and released the souvenir of the school as part of the celebration. The founding teachers and staff and other pioneers of the school were also felicitated for their contribution to the growth and welfare of the school. The Chief Minister in his address expressed his deep sense of appreciation to the Salesian Society for establishing Don Bosco School in Tura and for having provided a platform for quality education to the people of this difficult region. “This institution has provided a platform to the people of Garo Hills to have access to quality education. The Alumni of this great institution has been bringing a transformative change in the society”, he said.

Lamenting the steady decline in the quality of education in the government-run schools, the Chief Minister lauded Don Bosco School Tura which has been transforming the children of this region to be productive and sought for corroborative partnership with Salesian schools in responding to the needs of the people for accessing quality education in the State. While acknowledging the difficulty faced by institutions in attracting good teachers and retaining them without government support, the Chief Minister said that despite the constraints the government has been able to accord highest budgetary allocation for the education sector. Referring to the twin concerns of parents looking beyond the state boundaries for higher professional courses for their children and the youth looking beyond the state boundaries for livelihood opportunities, he urged upon the Salesian Society to establish a University to cater to the needs of higher education in the state and also to go a step further beyond what they are doing to guide the students on their career path. The Chief Minister was also of the view that education can create a “positive narrative” in promoting tourism in the state, adding that the alumni of schools can become readymade partners in disseminating the positive narrative and promoting the state as a destination. The Chief Minister, who also witnessed the impressive and spectacular performances displayed by the students of the school on the occasion, said that such display of talents by the boys and girls proves the commitment of the school to provide education to its students in totality.