Chennai, 23–24 October 2026: The Education and Culture Dimension cum School Coordinators’ Meeting of the Salesian Provinces of South Asia was held from 23–24 October 2026 at The Citadel, Provincial House, Chennai, bringing together provincial coordinators and school leaders to reflect on the challenges and opportunities in Salesian education. Fr. Babu Stephen and Fr. Kenny Pakma, in-charge of Education and Culture, represented Shillong Province.
The two-day meeting focused on strengthening the Salesian educational mission, promoting holistic formation, ensuring child safety, and integrating emerging technologies into teaching and learning. The inaugural session featured a keynote address by Rev. Fr. Don Bosco Lourduswamy, Provincial of Chennai, who emphasized the importance of maintaining cordial and affectionate relationships while exercising firmness and responsibility in educational leadership.
Fr. John Parankimalil, South Asia Coordinator for Education and Culture, highlighted the theme “Educating Hearts, Transforming Cultures.” He stressed that Salesian education must go beyond academic excellence to foster integral formation, cultural transformation, and the well-being of young people. The sessions also addressed child safety, institutional risk management, and the Salesian art of accompaniment, inspired by Don Bosco’s Preventive System.
Provincial coordinators presented reports on their institutions’ achievements, good practices, challenges, and educational priorities. Common practices included regular faculty development programmes, student leadership animation, meditation and prayer, catechism and moral education, extracurricular activities, sports, cultural programmes, and additional coaching for economically disadvantaged students. Challenges discussed included teacher retention, regulatory compliance, financial pressures, educational inequality, and the responsible integration of digital learning and artificial intelligence.
A major highlight was the panel discussion on “Education and Artificial Intelligence Today.” The experts emphasized the need to use AI responsibly while preserving human relationships, independent thinking, ethical values, and personal accompaniment. They encouraged schools to promote digital literacy, critical thinking, creativity, life skills, parental involvement, and appropriate institutional policies for AI use.
The meeting also featured presentations on educational impact, faith formation, digital communication, and networking among Salesian institutions. Participants were encouraged to share good practices, strengthen collaboration, develop region-sensitive curricula, promote faculty exchange, and ensure transparency and accountability in school administration. The assembly also welcomed the opportunity for three top-performing students from Salesian educational institutions to receive 100% free education at SRM Institute of Science and Technology, as presented by its representatives. In a significant development, Fr. Babu Stephen of the INS Province was elected as the Don Bosco South Asia Data Collection Coordinator for Education and Culture.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening the Salesian educational mission through collaboration, innovation, responsible technology use, and a preferential option for poor and vulnerable young people. The central message was clear: education must remain an experience of hope, enabling every young person to discover their potential and build a better future.
Fr. Babu Stephen SDB
