Shillong, Jan 29: “Preparing students for academic excellence and evolving them to be great human beings is the purpose of education,” said Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, while addressing the Golden Jubilee function of Good Shepherd Higher Secondary School, Jongksha, East Khasi Hills.
The Chief Minister congratulated the school for their dedicated five-decade service in ‘educating the heart and mind’ of thousands of students. On this occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Jubilee higher secondary block with modern science labs. He also inaugurated the Atal Tinkering Lab of the school. He also announced financial assistance to the school.
Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, BanteidorLyngdoh, Executive member of KHADC, MartleMukhim, Provincial Superior of Holy Cross Fathers, Fr. Simon Fernandes, CSC, and Alumni member and journalist, RiningLyngdoh spoke on the occasion and congratulated the school for having rendered 50 years of service in imparting quality education to the youth of the area.
The Minister who is also the MLA of Mawkynrew constituency has assured financial assistance to develop the school compound and other required infrastructure and a work order would be handed over to the School Managing Committee. The MDC also assured to extend financial support to the school in whatever way he can.
Fr. George Jacob, CSC principal of the school, in his address, appreciated the visionary leaders of the past and present, staff and students of the school for their commitment to the education and recommitted to inspiring many more students and preparing them for the future.
On the occasion, the school students performed various cultural items and the grand programme saw the presence of teachers, parents, friends and well-wishers of the school by following COVID-19 protocols.
The history of Good Shepherd Higher Secondary School, Jongksha, commenced in 1945 with establishing a Lower Primary School by the Catholic Mission, Shillong. However, the leap for the Educational Mission of the Catholic Church took place with the establishment of Good Shepherd Parish in 1972 by the Salesians of Don Bosco.
In a certain sense, the beginning of Good Shepherd School began in the same year with the opening of Class IV and the Middle English School. From then, the school started to function more systematically and earnestly with nine students and five teachers!
In 1977, the Congregation of Holy Cross took responsibility for the Parish and the fledging School. The efforts of the Congregation of Holy Cross were in collaboration with the Franciscan Sisters of the Most Blessed Sacrament till 2004 and from there on with the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany.
What began as a tiny seed in 1972 with nine students and five teachers has grown into a big tree with 850 students, 33 teachers and five non-teaching staff.
