Indian PM seeks Church help on education targets

(January 18, 2010) Indian Prime Minster Manmohan Singh has called for the help of the Catholic Church in his ambitious plan for 100 percent literacy in the country. Speaking to 8,000 staff, students, associates and former students of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School and College in eastern India’s Kolkata city on Saturday, Singh said he wanted every child in the country to become literate over the next decade. The chief guest of honour at St. Xavier’s 150th anniversary celebrations, Singh praised the Jesuits who built St. Xavier’s for their vision and for choosing “the path of education” to serve people. The prime minister urged all those associated with school education in the country to pay special attention to the modernization of the syllabi and work for pupils’ overall development. He also said he wanted to see “a sharp increase in the enrolment of the girl child in schools,” saying, “every girl child should have the opportunity to fulfil her potential and become equal citizens.” He also called for attention to children’s health, physical education and community and national service. “School education,” he said, “must focus on the all-round development of a child’s personality.” India’s Catholic Church has a vast network of educational institutions in the country, managing some 13,250 schools, 450 colleges and two universities for nearly 7 million students. St Xavier’s was founded by four Belgian and three English Jesuits on Jan. 16, 1860.