Port Blair, July 22: The Chief Secretary, Mr Anand Prakash inaugurated the phase –III ‘Jubilee Year Block’ of the St, Mary’s School, Bhatu Basti on Wednesday. The triple storied Jubilee Year Block has been created to commemorate the 50 year completion of the St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, (1965-2015) in Port Blair. The Secretary Education, Smt Shakshi Mittal, officials from the Education Directorate, members of the Church, faculty of the school and students were also present during the inaugural function.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Secretary described the occasion as historic as the building developed during Jubilees are always remembered by the students and others. Appreciating the quality of education being provided to the students in St. Mary’s School, the Chief Secretary said school days are formative which sets the parameter for future life of a student. Turning to the students, the Chief Secretary urged the students to contribute their mite for the betterment of the Community, these Islands and the Country as a whole.
Referring to the adoption of a Village by the St. Mary’s Church during the Jubilee celebrations, the Chief Secretary desired that that need based activities be carried so that the villagers are largely benefited out of the adoption programme. The Chief Secretary who visited the entire new block appreciated the facilities such as full-fledged computer lab, spacious reading room etc. provided for the benefit of the students.
Giving a brief history of the school, the Secretary, St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Mr Jose P John said that school has been established by the St. Mary’s Educational & Charitable Society in the year 1996 at Mohanpura. Apart from Mohanpura and Bhatubasti, we have a chain of schools at Rangat, Betapur Mayabunder, Diglipur and Hutbay, he added.
Welcoming the gathering, the Manager St. Mary’s Rev. Fr. Zakaria Mathew said that the school aims at providing quality education to the students and to ensure all round development of wards. As part of the Jubilee year Celebration it has been proposed to extend scholarship for some poor and needy students for higher professional courses, he added. The Vice Principal of the School, Ms Achamma Kuriakose, proposed the vote of thanks.
