Sandakan mission schools presented with Ethos

SANDAKAN – On 8 Oct 2018 the Board of Governors (BOG) of the five Catholic mission schools here visited the schools with parish priest Fr David Garaman and PPC chairman Pilis Malim.

Mission schools place great emphasis on holistic education, and balancing character development with academic excellence.

In line with the Rukun Negara, it promotes the dignity, self-esteem and full development of the person.

Chairlady of Sandakan Diocesan Education Commission Rose Solibun affirmed the need to preserve the identity of mission schools in maintaining the ethos and special character.

In order to have a sense of ownership, the BOG will play a greater part with active participation in the schools’ affairs.

For a start, the School Heads were made aware of the importance of Ethos in preserving the Mission schools’ special character.

Concise Handbills on Ethos, special character, and tradition were presented to all the Headteachers of SM St Mary Secondary, SM St Cecilia Secondary, SK St Mary Convent and SK St Mary Labuk.

Fr Garaman said that it has been his interest to look into the development of the mission school since being appointed as the rector.

He acknowledged the the importance of having a  sense of belonging through understanding the ethos, character, and traditions of the mission schools, while in the same note, he underlined the importance of cooperation between the BOG, School Heads and teachers to work together in order to realize the ownership of mission schools.

He noted that the schools walkabout was a good start and hoped to have more regular visits to the schools. 

He thanked the Commission for initiating the visits, and the Headteachers for giving their time, especially in helping the Church to realize that the schools are truly mission schools.

He requested that the cooperation and collaboration between the Church, BOG, and school Heads be maintained.

The walkabout session ended with a luncheon hosted by SK St Mary Convent. – Dalius LL