Karkala: Higher literacy contributes for national growth - Bishop Gerald Lobo

Bellevision Media Network

Karkala, 03 Jun 2016: Out of national population, 32 percent of girls are illiterate even today. Over 688 lac children are never enrolled in school. The literacy has bearing on the national growth. The increase in literature will contribute for national progress, said bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi diocese.

 

Bishop Dr Lobo was speaking during inaugural of new building of St Joseph’s English Medium School, Belman, near here on Wednesday June 1.

 

 

He further said, ‘Christians account for 1.8 percent of national population, while their contribution to national growth is 20 percent,’ said bishop Dr Lobo.

 

He also honored Fr Lawrence B D’Souza, parish priest of St Joseph’s parish, Belman for taking key role in beginning English medium school and constructing new building at 120-year-old St Joseph’s education institution.

 

Karkala former MLA H Gopal Bhandary after inaugurating the new building said that St Joseph’s Kannada Medium School is the second among the schools that completed over a century and its contributions are indeed significant. The Christian missionaries contributed for the growth of education and health sectors of undivided Dakshina Kannada district.

 

Fr Lawrence welcomed the gathering and delivered the preliminary address.

 

Catholic Board of Education – Mangaluru diocese secretary Fr Gerald D’Souza, Catholic Education Society – Udupi diocese secretary Fr Lawrence D’Souza, ZP member Reshma U Shetty, TP member Asha Devendra Shetty, Belman gram panchayat president Mallika Rao, entrepreneur N Suhas Hegde, Karkala block education officer Manmohan H, alumni association president Xavier D’Mello conveyed best wishes.

 

Belman assistant parish priests Fr J B Moras and Fr Joswin Praveen D’Souza, Belman parish council vice president Gregory Menezes, secretary Lydia Aranha, convent superior Sr Usha Stella, school betterment Committee president Ronald D’Souza were present at the dais.

 

The donors were honored on the same occasion.

 

The teacher Vincent Pinto introduced the dignitaries. B Pundalika compered the programme. The School head teacher Sr Lucy Pereira proposed vote of thanks.