DON BOSCO TECHNICAL SCHOOL – SHILLONG
(Estd. 1928 – C 1932) INS 17
Laitumkhrah, Shillong,
Meghalaya – 793003
BRIEF HISTORY
Soon after the arrival of the Salvatorian Missionaries in Shillong in 1890, an Orphanage and a Trade School were set up at Laitumkhrah. At their departure in 1915, the Trade School was closed down. The Jesuits who assumed temporary charge of the Assam Mission (1915-22), maintained the Orphanage and opened a formal school. Bro. Brisson C.S.C was appointed as its Director. The Salesians of Don Bosco, on their arrival in Shillong in 1922, took charge of the Orphanage and the Middle English School. The School was dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. On 05th February 1922, Mgr. Mathias appointed Fr. Bonardi in-charge of St. Anthony’s School and Orphanage.
At the same time, Fr. Emmanuel Bars and Br. Gumersind Cid were given charge to restart the Trade School and the Printing Press that had been stopped in 1914. In 1923, Br. Ernest Ferraris, an accomplished cabinet maker and Bro. Matta, a printer by training joined the team. Br. Santana opened the tailoring department and Br. Cid the shoe making and the cabinet making departments. The trade school got christened ‘Don Bosco Industrial School’. The mechanical workshop was opened in 1925 when Br. Joseph Casagrande joined. The institution grew fast.
On 19 March 1928, the Salesians acquired the present Don Bosco complex from the RNDM sisters in exchange for Merryville, where the Salesians were lodged so far. Merryville is the present St. Mary’s College campus. This enabled both institutions to expand. In 1931, St. Anthony’s Middle school was raised to a High School. In 1934, St. Anthony’s College was started. It received recognition in 1936. In 1965, the College was separated from the Don Bosco Complex to facilitate administration.
Don Bosco Technical School was canonically erected as a Salesian House by Rev. Fr. Peter Ricaldone, the Rector Major, on 10 June 1932. The House is dedicated to St. John Bosco. On 9 November 1934, on the eve of the Episcopal consecration of Mgr. Louis Mathias and Mgr. Stephen Ferrando, the monument to Don Bosco at the Don Bosco Square was unveiled by Sir Michael Keane, Governor of Assam. It was to honour Don Bosco, Educator and Friend of Youth, canonized in the same year (1934).
From 1963, the process of modernization of the Technical School began. In 1966, with the help of Misereor, the Technical School was totally rebuilt. Fr. Mario Porcu and Fr. Herman Laarhuis worked hard for it. On 23 September 1971, the Government of Meghalaya gave official recognition to the Diploma issued by Don Bosco Technical School.
In 1975, the Government of India gave provisional permission to send candidates for the All India Trade Test. The first batch of students appeared for the ITI examinations in 1976. On 2 June 1977, the DBTS got affiliated to the Ministry of Labour (National Council for Vocational Training, NCVT, Govt. of India).
DBTS is a vital link of Bosco Tech India, the network of all the Don Bosco Institutions offering vocational training. It is also a member institution of SKIP (Skills for Progress). IGNOU has marked DBTS as a potential Community College with certified courses.
MINISTRIES / CHAPLAINCIES
Other than the services of the DBTS proper, the confreres are engaged in ministries and services to the local church and various religious communities. Regular chaplaincies are rendered by the confreres to St. Edmunds Brothers and to Auxilium Convent, Nongthymmai. Confreres offer pastoral assistance to the various parishes and local communities of the area. Being located in the heart of the city, the community renders hospitality to number of priests, religious and others.
STATISTICS
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DON BOSCO TECHNCAL SCHOOL, SHILLONG – 2017 |
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Details |
Number |
Male |
Female |
Catholics |
Others |
|
Salesians |
14 |
14 |
— |
14 |
— |
|
Teaching Staff |
38 |
14 |
8 |
22 |
16 |
|
Students |
777 |
355 |
213 |
568 |
209 |
|
Passed – Class VIII-X |
485 |
220 |
150 |
370 |
115 |
|
Passed – Class XI-XII |
187 |
83 |
59 |
142 |
45 |
|
Passed – Degree |
145 |
30 |
35 |
65 |
15 |
|
Dropouts |
70 |
35 |
10 |
45 |
25 |
|
Brothers |
10 |
10 |
— |
10 |
— |
|
Concession |
84 |
44 |
20 |
64 |
20 |
|
Nature of Activities / Trades |
Carpentry (I.T.I) |
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DTP Operator (I.T.I) |
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Electrician (I.T.I) |
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Wireman (I.T.I) |
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Mechanic (Motor Vehicle) ITI |
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Machinist (I.T.I) |
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Welder (I.T.I) |
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Book Binder (Non Formal) |
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Carpentry (Non Formal) |
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DTP Operator (Non Formal) |
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Printing Technology (Non Formal) |
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Machinist (Non Formal) |
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Mech. (Motor Vehicle) Non Formal |
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Welder (Non Formal) |
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Bakery |
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Short term courses |
Videography & Photography, Basic electrical, Mobile repair, Motor winding, Bakery, Plumbing, Tailoring, Advance tailoring, Beautician, Advance beautician, Hair cut, 4 wheelers, 2 wheelers, Driving, Stenography & Computer Hardware |
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Initiatives by the Community |
1. Students day |
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2. Departments day |
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3. Trekking |
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4. Competitions |
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5. Community day |
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6. Student – Personality development programs |
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7. Staff – Quality Enhancement programs |
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8. Family Day |
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9. Award Day |
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Don Bosco Industrial School which was taken over by the Salesians was part of St. Anthony’s school and Orphanage. In 1924 it had 40 trainees and 56 orphans. In 1927 the Don Bosco Industrial School had 140 boarders. The boarding became more prominent when St. Anthony’s school began in a separate building. The first meeting of the Past Pupils was held on 28th October 1932. By 1957 Don Bosco boarding had 265 inmates, of these 177 were artisans who attended St. Anthony’s school. At present Don Bosco boarding consists boys who are pursuing various technical trades and a hostel for college students which was started in 2012. Today we have boarders and college students.
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ST. ANTHONY’S LP SCHOOL
St. Anthony Lower Primary School (Class Nursery to Class III) was separated from the high school and was brought to the present location in 2000. In 2011 Classes IV and V also were brought to the DBTS premises. At present, there are 1215 students in the roll. There are 37 teachers (two male and 35 female) and 7 helpers. Two Salesians are directly involved in the school: the headmaster and a cleric (Practical trainee).
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St. ANTHONY’S LOWER PRIMARY SCHOOL, SHILLONG – 2017 |
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Details |
Number |
Male |
Female |
Catholics |
Others |
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Salesians |
02 |
02 |
02 |
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Teaching Staff |
37 |
02 |
35 |
22 |
15 |
|
Helpers/Office Staff |
7 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
|
Students |
1189 |
1189 |
636 |
553 |
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Statistics as in 2017