Kundapur Origin Sr Noreen Bags National Award for Teachers
Dr. Eugene D’Souza for Daijiworld News Network Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 2: Sr. Noreen of Apostolic Carmel has been selected among others for the National Awards for Teachers this year. These awards will be presented by The President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on the occasion of Teachers' Day on 5th September 2006 at a function to be held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
September 5th is celebrated as Teachers’ Day every year in the memory of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, India’s second President and a committed educationist. The National Awards for Teachers are given away every year to teachers who have excelled in their vocation. The Central Government gives away these awards on the basis of recommendations by respective State Governments and educational organisations.
For her meritorious and dedicated work in the field of education Sr. Noreen was recommended by the Government of Uttar Pradesh for this prestigious national level teachers award.
Sister Noreen comes from a large well-known and devout family of Pius Nagar in Kundapur. She is fourth among thirteen children of late Julian Fernandes(Jillu Master) and late Pauline Fernandes. They are altogether five brothers and eight sisters. (One of her brothers, William Fernandes expired recently).
Sr. Noreen was born on 2nd November 1947. Before joining the Apostolic Carmel Convent in 1965, she was known as Nelly Fernandez.
Sr. Noreen was a brilliant and dedicated student. Right from her childhood she admired the work done by the nuns in the field of education and decided to join the religious order. After completing her primary and secondary education at St. Joseph’s Girl’s High School at Kundapur, she joined the Apostolic Carmel Convent in 1965. After completing her training as a nun, Sr. Noreen went on for further studies and graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi in 1980.
As she was keen in taking up teaching assignment, Sr. Noreen acquired B.Ed. degree from St. Anne’s College of Education at Mangalore in 1981. Along with the teaching assignment, Sr. Noreen acquired M.A. degree in English literature from the Kanpur University in 1984.
Sr. Noreen has been teaching at Fatima Convent Inter College, Ashok Nagar in Kanpur (U.P.) since 1981. She has been known for her excellence in teaching. Appreciating her work as a teacher and realizing her potential for administrative work, Sr. Noreen was appointed as the Principal of the same institute in 1992. First as a teacher and then as the Principal, Sr. Noreen has impressed the students, parents and the government officials with her dedication to education. She has been the recipient of various awards for her contribution as a teacher.
These include the District Award from the Department of Education, Kanpur (1992), the Ganges Club Award (1990), awards from the Rotary Clubs of Kanpur and Ghorakpur(1994) and award from the Lions Club (2004). In recognition of her excellence in the field of education the Government of Uttar Pradesh has recommended Sr. Noreen’s name for the prestigious National Awards for Teachers.
The profession of teaching runs in the family.
Sr. Noreen’s father, late Julian Fernandes, also known as ‘Jillu Master’ was a well-known teacher in Kundapur. One of her brothers, Fr. Vaalerian Fernandes is the founder Principal of St. Paul’s High School at Paithan in Aurangabad District of Maharashtra.
He is also recipient of a number awards for his contribution in the field of education. Four sisters of Sr. Noreen are also teachers. Rosy teaches in the Government Junior College, Mulky; Eliza is a teacher in the Government Primary School at Kalattur near Shirva; Matilda is a lecturer in the Vijaya Teacher’s College in Bangalore and Gladys teaches in the United Indian School at Kuwait.
Two other sisters of Sr. Noreen are also nuns. Sr. Millicent (Apostolic Carmel) who has passed the 8th Grade in Western Classical Music is the Music teacher in a Convent in Nagpur. Her other sister, Sr. Caroline (Holy Cross) is on a deputation to Switzerland.
The above facts amply justify the honour of The National Awards for Teachers that has been bestowed on Sr. Noreen.