Humbled !

An Opportunity to be of use in shaping the future of our Children and Youth !

In response to the implementation of the New National Education Policy 2020 (implemented effective 2022-23), the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JSCA) has created a Seven-Member South Asia Conference-Level TASK FORCE with the following persons of eminence :-

1. Rev. Fr. Joe Arun SJ : Convenor of Task Force, South Asia Secretary for Higher Education & Director, LIBA, Bengaluru.
2. Rev. Fr. Dr. John Felix Raj SJ : Vice Chancellor, St. Xavier's University Kolkata.
3. Dr. Raj Kumar : Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal University, New Delhi.
4. Rev. Fr. John Ravi SJ : South Asia Secretary for Secondary Education and National Jesuit Alumni Advisor.
5. Rev. Fr. Ajit Kumar Xess SJ : Provincial Superior, Ranchi Jesuit Province.
6. Dr. Devendra Singh : Governing Council Member from South Asia at World Union of Jesuit Alumni (WUJA) and Past President of Federation of Jesuit Alumni Associations of India (JAAI). Expert in non-formal education.
7. Mr. Shapath Shah : Past President of Federation of Jesuit Alumni Associations of India (JAAI).  
      
The first physical meeting of the TASK FORCE was hosted by and held at St. Xavier's University Kolkata, New Town, Kolkata from 17th to 19th March 2023.

As per Terms of Reference of the Task Force, the three day brainstorming culminated with exhaustive planning and documentation of the way forward, incorporating the opportunities and challenges in implementing the ambitious, futuristic, holistic New Education Policy in tandem with the Right to Education Act and the Jesuit / Ignatian Value System and Priorities, while safeguarding the minority rights of the Pan-India Jesuit Educational Institutions.

VC Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj SJ and the SXUK Superior Rev. Fr. Joseph Raj SJ (whose birthday we celebrated together on 19th March) proved to be excellent hosts.

Apart from providing the venue, the comfortable accommodation, Bengali, Indian and Continental varieties of cuisine and intermittent meals (especially certain unique fish delicacies), they also stole time from the busy days to give us all a pleasure trip to MOTHER's WAX MUSEUM and the 600 Acre spread one-of-its-kind ECO-PARK, Kolkata.

We look forward to a lot of good work together, and have strong belief and conviction that we shall help all Jesuit Educational Institutions of South Asia Conference plan and execute the best to re-shape the future-oriented learning, education and evaluation processes for our shining children and youth !

AMEN !

Some pictures here for your delight ... !

Devendra Singh