Moodubelle: M’lore University Committee visits proposed St. Lawrence College site
Bellevision Media Network
Moodubelle, 26 January 2012: The Local Inquiry Committee (LIC) of the Mangalore University comprising of four members led by Prof. Parameshwar Bhat visited the proposed St. Lawrence Degree College site at Moodubelle on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, incidentally the day of the Feast of St. Lawrence at the Shrine of the Saint at Attur-Karkala, to ascertain the infrastructure and other facilities that are available to start the said college from the academic year 2012-13.
The members of the LIC were received in the Church premises at 2.30 pm by Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Correspondent along with Commodore Jerome Castelino-Convener of the College Organising Committee. Thereafter, the LIC members visited the proposed college site in the vacant blocks of the Higher Primary School which had been modified and renovated so as to meet the standard required for starting First Year BA and B.Com classes from June 2012.
The LIC members minutely inspected each and every class-room, college and principal’s office, staff and ladies rooms, library hall and sanitary facilities. Thereafter, Commodore Jerome Castelino briefed the members of the LIC in principal’s office with regard to the necessity of starting a new degree college in Moodubelle, various facilities available to run the college successfully and action taken so far in preparation for starting the degree college. The Commodore said that a College Organising Committee comprising of 19 members has been constituted and out these members five sub-committees have been drawn up to look after various aspects necessary to start a degree college.
Having checked the infrastructural and other facilities as well as being convinced of the briefing by Commodore Jerome Castelino, the LIC members were quite pleased and informed the Correspondent, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes and other members of the College Organising Committee that they will strongly recommend to the Mangalore University to give affiliation to the proposed St. Lawrence Arts and Commerce Degree College at Moodubelle.
During the refreshments, the members of the LIC had meaningful interaction with the members of the College Organising Committee. Thereafter, accompanied by the Correspondent-Fr. Joswey Fernandes and Fr. Paul Sequeira, the LIC members went around St. Lawrence Composite PU College complex including the huge playground and the midday meal facilities. The members of the LIC greatly appreciated the facilities, especially the vast play ground.
Background:
There had been a desire to start a degree college among certain section of the village community so as to enable the students from Belle and surrounding regions to continue degree college education after the completion of PUC without having to travel to far off places.
The proposal to start a degree college in Moodubelle was first discussed in a meeting of the PU College Management Committee in August 2011. After due deliberation and having made a thorough study of the proposal by visiting different colleges and speaking to their principals and also consulting the officials in the Mangalore University, the proposal to start a degree college in Moodubelle was finally accepted during the next meeting of the Management Committee.
Having convinced about the necessity and feasibility of starting a degree college, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes suggested that he would place the proposal of starting a degree college before the Church Finance Committee as well as the Parish Pastoral Council. Both these parish bodies unanimously accepted the proposal on September 24 and September 28, 2011 respectively.
Having obtained the approval from both the Finance Committee and Parish Pastoral Council, the proposal to start the degree college in Moodubelle was sent to the Diocesan authorities. The Bishop of Mangalore, Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius P. D’ Souza deputed a three member commission headed by Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes, Episcopal Vicar of Udupi to the proposed college site in the latter part of September 2011 and recommended the proposal to have a degree college in Moodubelle under the Catholic Board of Education(CBE).
After receiving the permission from the Bishop to have a degree college at Moodubelle, ten copies of application in the form of project report were submitted to the Mangalore University through the CBE on October 12, 2011. The University authorities informed that the LIC would visit the proposed college site somewhere in January 2012.
Prior to the submission of application to the Mangalore University, there was a need to identify a qualified person to shoulder the responsibility as the principal to the proposed degree college. Under these circumstances, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes contacted Dr. Eugene D’Souza and requested him to take up the responsibility as the principal of the proposed degree college. Dr. Eugene D’Souza accepted the offer and has been a member of the College Organising Committee.
Dr. Eugene D’Souza
Dr. Eugene D’Souza has a vast experience in the field of higher education. He has retired after serving for 31 years as a lecturer and Head of the Department of History in VPM’s Arts and Commerce College, Thane. He has administrative experience as he had served as the principal of Asmita College of Arts and Commerce for Women at Vikhroli, Mumbai, for two years. He was visiting lecturer for post graduate course in the Department of History of the University of Mumbai. Besides, he was also Honorary Professor and Ph.D. Guide in St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. After, retirement, Dr. Eugene D’Souza has been in Moodubelle since the last three years and has been rendering his service to Bellevision.com website as its media coordinator.
Before the visit of the LIC to Moodubelle, the college site had to be modified and upgraded. The work was done under the direction of Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes and the supervision of Commodore Jerome Castelino. The entire work was completed well in time for the visit of the LIC.
After acquiring the formal approval from the University and the State government, first year BA and BCom classes will start from June 2012. For First Year BA class two options are being offered: Economics, History and Political Science and vocation oriented subjects-Economics, Business Studies and Computer Application.
The various Committees are expected to carry out the assigned specific tasks with a view to start St. Lawrence Degree College on the right lines and in time. Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes is hopeful that the parishioners will whole heartedly cooperate and support this noble cause.