1st Catholic teachers´ training college opens

UCANEWS.COM

• July 03 2009

The recent opening of the first Catholic teachers´ training college in Bangladesh marked a "historic moment" for the Church here, which had been trying to establish such an institution since the 1990s.

"The government has closed down many training colleges for being too commercial and for not focusing on quality education. We got permission because we have proven ourselves trustworthy in this regard," said Father Benjamin Costa.

The secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Education (ECCE) was speaking during the June 25 opening of the Archbishop T.A. Ganguly Teachers´ Training College.

The college is named after the late Holy Cross Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly of Dhaka, the first native Bengali archbishop, who was declared a Servant of God in 2007.






"This is a historic moment for Christians in Bangladesh. We´ve been trying to get government approval for a Catholic teachers´ training college since the 1990s," said Father Costa.

Apostolic nuncio to Bangladesh Archbishop Joseph Marino and Archbishop Paulinus Costa of Dhaka formally opened the college. About 220 people attended the event including Christian Member of Parliament Promod Mankhin.

"The Church aims to ensure quality education through Christian institutions," said Archbishop Costa at the event. "We believe only quality education for teachers will help them provide a true education for their students and subsequently help the country march toward prosperity."

The college will conduct 10-month Bachelor of Education degree courses for teachers.

Holy Cross Sister Molli Gertrude Costa, the principal, UCA News that there will be one teacher for every 10 students. The college has a staff of 10 teachers and the capacity to train 100 students every year. About 30 students have been admitted so far.

The college opening came after the apostolic nuncio met the prime minister earlier this year to discuss Church proposals to boost Christian educational institutions, among other issues.

At the meeting Archbishop Joseph Marino asked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for permission to establish a Church-run teachers´ training college in the country.

The premier assured the nuncio of the government´s support for his proposals, according to a report published in the Catholic weekly, "Pratibeshi."