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- St Esprit turns 70
St Esprit turns 70
- By Pratima Adhikary Auckel
- Published 30th May, 2008
- Education
- Unrated
Pratima Adhikary Auckel
Copy Writer with News On Sunday/Financial News that also includes Industry Update. Holds a BA(Hons) and an MSc from Vishwa Bharati, Shantiniketan. She also writes features and news. She has worked for CAPART (Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology), Ministry of Rural Development, India.
View all articles by Pratima Adhikary Auckel
The college ambiance is totally enveloped in the aura of celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2008. Its foundation stone was laid in the year 1917. Started mainly as a seminar for catholic priests, it subsequently became College Père Laval.
On January 10, 1938, the school was renamed College du Saint Esprit. Under the guidance of Père Daniel Liston, the college then had 107 students, including 25 boarders and 78 day students, wherein the boarders had to pay a monthly fee of Rs 50 while others paid Rs 14. It is said that in the beginning the school had to struggle and compete a lot, though it was not an obsession to produce laureates.
Rector Jacques Malié says : “By dint of hard work and the dedication of the staff, the school improved. Years back, we had 10 laureates at one go. Now we have laureates each year but the highest pass rate in the HSC examination this year is reason enough to taste the success and be content.”
The Rector points out the second term is very important. “We prepare the pupils, especially those of Forms V and upper VI for the final exams. They take the 'dress rehearsal exams', practise mock exam test in the same condition as they would be expected to do at the end of the year. They take the same number of papers, with time limits imposed, number and type of questions to be answered. The exercise is very important for both the teachers and the students. “It allows to make good forecast. It is also requested and recommended by Cambridge, and in case of discrepancies, we can refer to this result. Now most universities also ask and refer to the forecast markings.
“Secondly, we can also get a list of potential laureates. We try to groom all in the third term, without putting a lot of pressure on the pupils. We encourage and give confidence to students that they have the potential to do much better. Likewise, it also helps the school in taking remedial actions.”
Jacques Malié says the second term is the longest term. Pupils become restless as the term progresses and they have a lot of extra curricular activities. “Sometimes, this may lead to problems of indiscipline. We have to be very watchful and vigilant,” he adds.
Preparing for the fête
The year 2008 is a special one for the college as it marks its 70 th anniversary. The school is celebrating the anniversary with lots of activities. Already the students, along with the President of the school's alumni, have scaled the highest summit, Piton de la Rivière Noire, to hoist the national and the school flags. Their brotherhood day celebration also led to the candle light march with 4000 pupils from different schools.
The inter college sports scheduled for 27th and 28 th of June will mark its third big event. All the confessional schools are invited to participate in open events. The administration feels that the event which will be held on Friday and Saturday will rightly send a message of working on weekends.
Malié adds : “ In the past, the college has done well in sports and extra curricular activities. We do believe in the potentials and capabilities of students who are not academically gifted. Our pupils should leave as people with total educational integration, taking into consideration the mind, heart and the physical aptitudes as well.
“Now with the intake of mixed abilities, the school population is changing. We are trying to get into contact with the vocational and professional schools,
so that we can direct some students who cannot make it up to the HSC to professional courses. We have to adapt to the change and producing laureates is not our first concern. Our very first concern is to see that the maximum of pupils succeed in their HSC exams. Last year we had 97 percent passes in HSC and we stood first among the boy’s schools,” he says.
Making learning effective
College du Saint Esprit has been faring well in the extra curricular activities like debates, quiz competition, elocution contests. The school shows keen interest in these events. It says participation is not for the sake of gaining awards.
Prabha Ujoodah, who teaches English and also guides the students in debates and elocution contests, says: “It has helped our pupils to break the silence and become less reserved. They don't hesitate to speak in public. It has also helped in the mastery of English language. As students in Mauritius are not really exposed to English these activities give great exposure to English. We ask them to do the initial reference work and paper preparation, just to make them close to the English language.
Both personality wise and academic wise, the extra curricular activities are helpful.” However, she feels that the competitions and events organized by different sectors need some change. “It should be well organized, in terms of time frame and objectives. Some competitions have preliminary, and many stages before the final, thus engage the school's team for the whole year. During the third term, we can’t afford pupils to give major attention to the extra curricular activities. Allocation of time is difficult as we have no specific class for such activities. We make use of the lunch time time and free periods.
“Debate topics are mostly social and economic, but at times for some competition, the wordings of the debate fail to convey the appropriate meaning. Students don't know in which direction the talk should develop. I believe that the topics although different, should be based on general paper requirements. Somehow it will complement their exams. It will also give incentives to the students to explore the subjects further. Personal reading and references will ultimately help in the exams,” she adds.
Certificate
The trend to reward the winners with shields and cash prizes does not satisfy all.
“The prizes mostly have been shields, cash and gift vouchers, books, etc. I am of the opinion that a certificate of participation should be given even if the pupils don't win. Not all have to be winners, participation is also equally important. This trend of giving documentary evidences to all would help the students at the universities and also in getting jobs. After all the students give time to preparing the activities.
Bulky second term
Ludovic Li Sim Yam, is in lower VI. He finds the second term bulky and vast as compared to the small chapters and lessons in SC. However, he says, the teachers are helping them to overcome the change. “We are advised to start the revision and references at the end of each and every lesson, do a lot of reference work in the library. Practice, preparation and perseverance are the formul given by our teachers.They make it compulsory to practise, revise and reflect on the lessons,” he adds.
He believes it's not only the intelligent who can be laureates but those with very good preparation and dedication.
On January 10, 1938, the school was renamed College du Saint Esprit. Under the guidance of Père Daniel Liston, the college then had 107 students, including 25 boarders and 78 day students, wherein the boarders had to pay a monthly fee of Rs 50 while others paid Rs 14. It is said that in the beginning the school had to struggle and compete a lot, though it was not an obsession to produce laureates.
Rector Jacques Malié says : “By dint of hard work and the dedication of the staff, the school improved. Years back, we had 10 laureates at one go. Now we have laureates each year but the highest pass rate in the HSC examination this year is reason enough to taste the success and be content.”The Rector points out the second term is very important. “We prepare the pupils, especially those of Forms V and upper VI for the final exams. They take the 'dress rehearsal exams', practise mock exam test in the same condition as they would be expected to do at the end of the year. They take the same number of papers, with time limits imposed, number and type of questions to be answered. The exercise is very important for both the teachers and the students. “It allows to make good forecast. It is also requested and recommended by Cambridge, and in case of discrepancies, we can refer to this result. Now most universities also ask and refer to the forecast markings.
“Secondly, we can also get a list of potential laureates. We try to groom all in the third term, without putting a lot of pressure on the pupils. We encourage and give confidence to students that they have the potential to do much better. Likewise, it also helps the school in taking remedial actions.”
Jacques Malié says the second term is the longest term. Pupils become restless as the term progresses and they have a lot of extra curricular activities. “Sometimes, this may lead to problems of indiscipline. We have to be very watchful and vigilant,” he adds.
Preparing for the fête
The year 2008 is a special one for the college as it marks its 70 th anniversary. The school is celebrating the anniversary with lots of activities. Already the students, along with the President of the school's alumni, have scaled the highest summit, Piton de la Rivière Noire, to hoist the national and the school flags. Their brotherhood day celebration also led to the candle light march with 4000 pupils from different schools.
The inter college sports scheduled for 27th and 28 th of June will mark its third big event. All the confessional schools are invited to participate in open events. The administration feels that the event which will be held on Friday and Saturday will rightly send a message of working on weekends.
Malié adds : “ In the past, the college has done well in sports and extra curricular activities. We do believe in the potentials and capabilities of students who are not academically gifted. Our pupils should leave as people with total educational integration, taking into consideration the mind, heart and the physical aptitudes as well.
“Now with the intake of mixed abilities, the school population is changing. We are trying to get into contact with the vocational and professional schools,
Making learning effective
College du Saint Esprit has been faring well in the extra curricular activities like debates, quiz competition, elocution contests. The school shows keen interest in these events. It says participation is not for the sake of gaining awards.
Prabha Ujoodah, who teaches English and also guides the students in debates and elocution contests, says: “It has helped our pupils to break the silence and become less reserved. They don't hesitate to speak in public. It has also helped in the mastery of English language. As students in Mauritius are not really exposed to English these activities give great exposure to English. We ask them to do the initial reference work and paper preparation, just to make them close to the English language.Both personality wise and academic wise, the extra curricular activities are helpful.” However, she feels that the competitions and events organized by different sectors need some change. “It should be well organized, in terms of time frame and objectives. Some competitions have preliminary, and many stages before the final, thus engage the school's team for the whole year. During the third term, we can’t afford pupils to give major attention to the extra curricular activities. Allocation of time is difficult as we have no specific class for such activities. We make use of the lunch time time and free periods.
“Debate topics are mostly social and economic, but at times for some competition, the wordings of the debate fail to convey the appropriate meaning. Students don't know in which direction the talk should develop. I believe that the topics although different, should be based on general paper requirements. Somehow it will complement their exams. It will also give incentives to the students to explore the subjects further. Personal reading and references will ultimately help in the exams,” she adds.
Certificate
The trend to reward the winners with shields and cash prizes does not satisfy all.
“The prizes mostly have been shields, cash and gift vouchers, books, etc. I am of the opinion that a certificate of participation should be given even if the pupils don't win. Not all have to be winners, participation is also equally important. This trend of giving documentary evidences to all would help the students at the universities and also in getting jobs. After all the students give time to preparing the activities.
Bulky second term
Ludovic Li Sim Yam, is in lower VI. He finds the second term bulky and vast as compared to the small chapters and lessons in SC. However, he says, the teachers are helping them to overcome the change. “We are advised to start the revision and references at the end of each and every lesson, do a lot of reference work in the library. Practice, preparation and perseverance are the formul given by our teachers.They make it compulsory to practise, revise and reflect on the lessons,” he adds.He believes it's not only the intelligent who can be laureates but those with very good preparation and dedication.
