Kohima, Oct. 11, 2019: Christ King Higher Secondary School Kohima, the first Catholic missionary school started by the Salesians of Don Bosco in Nagaland in February 1969 celebrated its golden jubilee today with Minister for Higher & Technical Education and Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along as the special guest.

The school was started by the Salesians of Don Bosco in Nagaland in February 1969 with a few students in the P Khel of Kohima village by Rev Fr Tarcisius Resto, SDB.

The aim was to provide high quality education to the children of Kohima and the surrounding villages.

Addressing the gathering, the minister said 50 years of an educational institution must have been a very long journey but a milestone has been achieved.

“Many a time you may not have been acknowledged for what the institute has done for the past 50 years but the students that have passed out and the society will ever remain grateful to you,” he said while also urging the school authorities to look forward for achieving greater heights.

Expressing that Nagaland state is going through a tremendous change and the merit of having one of the most educated state in the country and also the merit of having all this changes is because of the educational institutions, he said.

He acknowledged the school administration, teachers most of whom have been fathers and sisters for their relentless service. He said that their achievements of life may end with nothing after retirement but they have earned their merit with their sacrifices of consistence and persistence in imparting education in fulfilling the dreams of others.

‘Naga society should stop gossiping’

He went on to state that teachers are those who make all the difference in the lives of other people. Teaching profession is truly satisfying, he said while expressing hoping that the attitude of youngsters towards teaching profession will change and will be considered on top most of all profession.

Your job is tremendously wonderful job,” he said, while urging upon them to give their heart towards moulding and shaping the Naga students to be able and capable people of Naga society, who will stand fearless and speak for truth.

Today is the transition time of the Naga people and we need to be able to speak out the truth and be bold and fearless and not be afraid of the guns and bullets to die, he said.

The Minister also called upon the youngsters to be concerned about the environmental protection.

He further challenged the Naga people to be prepared to face interviews to get into government jobs instead of looking for backdoor appointments.

Opining that Naga society should stop gossiping and also spreading propagandas, he said Naga society does not need heroes and heroines of propaganda through social media. “We need the bold and strong youngsters to build a robust Nagaland not only for now but for the future too,” he said.

Every Naga should be able to accept their mistake and work together in cohesion to build a stronger and prosperous Nagaland, he said.

“We want young Naga men and women who are conscious of the environment and the indigenous heritage and values inherited from the forefathers,” he said.

Marking the occasion, the Minister also unveiled the golden jubilee monolith and unfurled the school flag while also honouring the teachers and students awardees with special awards.

‘Education must help people to grow’

Delivering the jubilee message, Most Rev Dr James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima, said education must help the people to grow as men and women of character, competence, conscience, compassion and commitment, who will then contribute to the evolution of a counter-culture to the present ruthlessly competitive model, by promoting collaboration and cooperation for the growth of all in a climate of mutual trust and sharing, and to a shockingly corrupt society, by fostering uprightness in public life.

In this sense the students of Christ King School, the past, the present and the future, must become its own ambassadors and proponents of the values which they have been taught while passing through its portals, he said.
More than mere academic education, it is the integral and holistic education that attracted both parents and students to the school.

“We want all citizens to become literate, skilled and competent, socially conscious and spiritually motivated and fully involved in the building up of a developed and just society. Thus education does not become an end in itself, rather it must empower one to live well and be happy,” he said.

The Bishop also maintained that education must make people not merely to do the right thing but enjoy the right things; not merely to be industrious but to love industry; not merely to be pure but to love purity; not merely to be just but to hunger and thirst for justice, not merely for living but for life.

The Bishop also offered prayers for jubilation and the golden jubilee monolith set up by the CKHSS Alumni Association.

Vice-provincial Salesian Province of Dimapur, Rev Fr Nazarius Lakra also exhorted the gathering as guest of honour while past pupils Wennyei Konyak (HSLC 1992 batch) and Lydia Yeptho (HSLC 1993 batch), Sister Joy, Provincial Bethany Sister also delivered message.

During the programme, Rector of the school Fr. Paul Punü delivered the welcome address while Principal of CKHSS Fr. Lonuo Linus tendered the vote of thanks.

The occasion was also marked by honouring land owners of the school from P Khel, Kohima village.

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