We stand at the threshold of a new academic year. At the outset, I extend my heartfelt prayers and best wishes to all dear students who are returning to their schools after the summer vacation, and to the teachers who guide them into the world of knowledge.
We should welcome this academic year with the conviction that “the greatest gift we can give a child is to teach him how to think.” Education is not merely about learning letters or securing high marks; rather, it is a profound process of character formation and of shaping a generation rooted in goodness. Beyond the accumulation of information, our educational efforts must aim at building a society marked by virtue, compassion, and justice. Value-based education that enables children to respect others, love nature, and show concern for their fellow human beings is one of the greatest needs of our time. We must realize that goodness in life is more important than ranks in examinations. As Sacred Scripture reminds us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). Our children must grow in this awareness and reverence for God.
Along with academic excellence, it is equally essential to cultivate a strong sense of civic responsibility in today’s children. Schools are not merely places where textbooks are studied; they are centres where young people learn how to live in society. Children must learn to protect public property, obey laws, keep their surroundings clean, and respect not only their own rights but also the rights of others. The future of our nation is being shaped in today’s classrooms. Therefore, teachers and parents must pay special attention to forming children into selfless and socially committed citizens.
The contribution of the Catholic Church in elevating Kerala to its present cultural and educational stature cannot be forgotten. Through the revolutionary concept of the “Pallikkoodam” (parish school), the Church succeeded in bringing the light of knowledge to people from all sections of society, irrespective of caste, religion, or social status. By opening the doors of learning to those who were once denied education, holy pioneers such as Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara illuminated a golden chapter in Kerala’s literacy movement. It is by cherishing this noble heritage that our educational institutions continue their mission today. As the renowned philosopher Aristotle observed, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” Keeping this message in mind, we must give priority to nurturing the goodness of the human heart.
Success in education rests upon the harmonious cooperation of four complementary pillars: students, teachers, parents, and management. Parents are the first teachers of their children. Teachers, with parental care and affection, must guide students in schools. When active communication between parents and teachers is supported by a committed management, students are assured a safe and healthy environment. The biblical exhortation, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6), should serve as a guiding principle for both parents and teachers.
Love, peace, patience, and a spirit of service are the Christian values that form the foundation of our educational institutions. Taking Jesus Christ, the Divine Teacher, as our model, we must transform our schools into shelters of love and compassion rather than mere coaching centres. It is this Christian ethos that teaches children not to be discouraged by failures and to regard their classmates not as rivals but as brothers and sisters.
I pray that this new academic year may be a season of knowledge, growth, and divine blessings for all our schools and students. May the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom, be a source of strength and protection for everyone.
Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil
