Fr Hess: A NOBLE OFFER TO YOU

The new principal of De Nobili School, Fr. Saby (Sebastian) Puthenpura, S.J. fresh from completing an M.A. in Education in New York and with extensive previous experience is determined to add to the luster of De Nobili not only district-wise but nationally.

He has ideas, freshness of vision and energy. Funds also are needed. You (many at least) have money which can provide the additional engine for new times and new advances. My trust is that you also realize that what you received in your school days was not what you paid for but much, much more. As your parents extended themselves to put you on the road to success in life, so also did De Nobili extend itself beyond their contribution.

Anurag Dikshit, on his own initiative has made an educationally and financial valuable offer to De Nobili of several sets of a new educational programme for schools which he has produced.

Fr. Saby has asked my help to De Nobili for the future, as he expressed himself:

"Anurag Dikshit's software programs sound good. In fact we have just made three interactive classrooms in the Junior school and have begun using some of the teaching softwares produced by NIIT. It would be a good idea to get Aunrag's program and try it out both in Junior and Senior schools. It seems that we had a good set up of computer lab in the fourth floor of the science block, but because some computer teachers complained that it is too much to climb, Pius Fernandez brought it down to the third floor and the present computer lab is so small, congested, dingy and aesthetically unsound. The teacher does not even have a master computer nor a display screen for demonstration of his classes. There are only 30 computers for almost 60 students in a class and two students share one computer. I have already discussed with our school administration and eveyone is of the opinion that the present computer room should be shifted back to the fourth floor where there is sufficient place for at least 60 computers to be set up.

We are also planning to make the present computer lab into an interactive classroom with computer, audio-visual equipments, LCD projector, and so on. We have already sunk in 15 lakhs rupees into the three interactive classrooms in the Junior school and every month we are incurring a deficit of Rs.1, 60,000 in paying the teachers' salary over the fee collected from the students. Government has put a restriction on the increased fee hike and has told us to increase only 15%, but the teachers are still being paid according to the 6th Pay Commission that we promised them to give. I have totally banned teachers taking tuitions and so we have to keep paying the hiked salaries to the teachers.We have filed a case in the High court over the interference of the government and the case is still sub judice and we are still not sure when the court will give a verdict. We are still waiting with our fingers crossed.

Meanwhile, Father George, is it possible to muster some funds from some benefactors to get the above-mentioned projects started. The purchase of another 30 new computers plus setting up the new computer lab and the interactive classrom with audio-visual facilities are estimated to cost us about Rs. 25 lakhs. I would be extremely grateful if you could put forward this proposal to some of our alumni who are settled down there in US or some other generous souls who are willing to help us."

Those of you who reside in India can send your contributions to De Nobili School, P.O. Digwadih, Dt. Dhanbad, Jharkhand.

Those who reside elsewhere can send contributions to
Jesuit Missions
8600 LaSalle Road, Suite 620
Towson MD 21286-2014
U.S.A.

specifying that they are for De Nobili School. All contributions will be gratefully acknowledged.

God's blessings on you, your family and your profession

Regards

Fr. George A. Hess, S.J.