Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 2: The Catholic Board of Education (CBE), Mangaluru, organised its 37th Teachers’ Day celebration and felicitation ceremony with solemnity and grand event proceedings on Wednesday, September 2, at the Shanthi Kiran Hall in Bajjodi, Nanthoor. The gathering brought together management officials, heads of institutions, retired educators, and meritorious students from across the diocese.
Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of the diocese of Mangalore and president of the CBE, presided over the programme. Shashidhar G S, K E S, deputy director (administration), Department of School Education, Dakshina Kannada District, attended as the chief guest.
Presidential & chief guest addresses
In his presidential address, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha highlighted the pivotal role teachers play in shaping a student’s life. He emphasised that the guidance and lessons imparted by educators remain valuable forever, serving as a lifelong compass. Encouraging students to respect their teachers, he noted that accepting constructive correction and discipline is essential for personal development and moral clarity.
The Bishop also urged educators to foster environments that help students observe, learn from their experiences, and think critically. He concluded by commending the teaching fraternity for their unwavering support and urged students to carry these invaluable lessons into their future endeavours.
Addressing the gathering with a proud nod to the region, "Amchi Dakshina Kannada" (Our Dakshina Kannada), chief guest Shashidhar G S lauded the collective efforts of the district's educators. He highlighted the significant improvement in the district's academic performance, noting that the student failure rate, which was once in the four digits, was successfully reduced to three digits last year.
"This year, our collective aim is to bring it down to just two digits," he stated. He emphasised that hard work is ultimately more important than success itself, reminding the audience that once success is achieved, it must be continuously pursued and maintained.
Shashidhar congratulated the headmasters and headmistresses, attributing the excellent district-level results to their strong willpower and dedicated leadership in their respective schools.
Emotional tribute to retiring educators
A key highlight of the event was the felicitation of retiring teaching and non-teaching staff in recognition of their decades of service. Around 25 teaching and 16 non-teaching staff were felicitated.
Representing the retired educators, Pushpavathi A (HM, St Joseph Higher Primary School, Kaliyoor) and Everest Crasta (HM, Cascia High School, Mangaluru) shared their reflections. They expressed deep gratitude to the Catholic Board of Education for its unwavering support throughout their careers and shared touching personal experiences about the immense satisfaction of nurturing generations of students.
Paying tribute to the retiring staff, the student choir of Lourdes Central School, Bejai, rendered a soulful farewell and felicitation song that moved the gathering.
Recognition of academic excellence
The event also honoured top-performing institutions and individual awardees:
• Special state & taluk awardees: Irene Leena Sequira, headmistress of St Joseph Higher Primary School, Nanthoor Padavu Calvary (State Level Best Teacher Awardee 2025–26), and Teresa L DMello, headmistress of Infant Jesus Higher Primary School, Modankap (Taluk Level Best Teacher Awardee 2025), were given special honours.
• 100% result institutions: 36 High Schools that achieved a 100% pass percentage in the 2025–2026 SSLC examinations, along with St Antony PU College (Naravi) and Lourdes Central School (Bejai) for achieving 100% results in PUC examinations, were formally recognized.
• Meritorious students: Top rank holders and high scorers in SSLC, PUC, UG, and PG examinations under the CBE management were awarded certificates and cash prize.
Programme highlights
The event commenced with a prayer dance performed by students of St Sebastian English Medium School, Permannur. Fr Praveen Leo Lasrado, secretary of the Catholic Board of Education, extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries and delegates. A tribute honoring deceased staff members and Students was led by Fr Stany Pinto (HM, Holy Family English Medium School, Surathkal).
The entire programme was compered by Santhosh Saldanha, principal of Naravi PU College, Naravi.
Fr Johnson Sequeira, principal of Lourdes Central School, Bejai, and governing board member of the CBE, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all organizers, guests, and institutions for the successful execution of the event. Following the National Anthem, Fr Santhosh Rodrigues, director of the Shanthi Kiran Pastoral Centre, invoked grace before the fellowship meal.