Every time I try to have a glance of Nossa Senhora Da Piedade Panjim, where Nirmala Institute of Education was born and grew up, I can hardly escape from nostalgic memories lingering over the events of the three years, during my B.Ed and M.Ed degree courses, half a century year ago. The great contribution made by this institution under principal Dr Theresa Kalathiveettil together with Prof Dias, Dr Chacko, Prof Demello, Miss Menesis, Miss Pillay, Miss Pia, Mr Naik and others, in the field of teacher education is unique and admirable.
I joined this Institution in 1966 for the BEd course, while I was teaching in Don Bosco. Being a young student it was rather an interesting experience to be in a class where a good number of my classmates were older.
In 1967, when we heard the news that the College was starting the MEd course, though many of us applied for admission, only eight were selected. Our professors were Dr Kalathiveettil, Dr Chako and two visiting professors from the University of Bombay. Though classes went on very well, none of us were able start the work on the dissertation. Hence we decided, not to appear for the final exam that year, which would mean a negative remark for the institution.
Nevertheless, our principal was smart enough to convince one student to start the work on dissertation under her guidance. She soon approached me with pleasing words of motivation to change my decision. Unfortunately I could not get sufficient reference materials for my dissertation. Knowing my predicament, she prepared a letter of recommendation to the librarian of Bombay University and advised me to go to Bombay. Within few days I flew to Bombay, collected all the materials with the assistance of that friendly librarian and returned to start work on my dissertation. The following three months I utilised visiting 20 schools selected at random from all over Goa, interviewing teachers, collecting data required for the dissertation and compiled the synopsis. Within a week my guide went through it and told me that everything was fine but it could not be approved unless I increased the number of schools from 20 to 30 and prepare the dissertation. This was an impossible task for me. I was shattered made up my mind to give up.
Knowing my frustration, the principal tried to encourage me with soothing words, “Please don’t give up. Do what the guide has said. That is going to help you in future”. Accepting her advice as a challenge, I visited 20 more schools and I had all the required data from 40 schools to complete my dissertation.
One day my guide came to Don Bosco to meet me and waited in the headmaster’s office. I was scared and angry as I did not like to hear any bad news about my dissertation, in the presence of my headmaster, who had a high impression about me. Hiding all my emotions, I met them with an artificial smile and my guide said, “Congratulations! Your dissertation is approved by the university and the remarks of the external guide is excellent,” Filled with joy I thanked my guide. Only then I realized that my guide was right in asking me to redo the whole work.
By the end of July we got the glad news that the Nirmala institute of education secured 100% (2 out of 2) result for the Maiden Batch of MEd Course.
After few years, one day I got the news that the Ministry of Education Nigeria, is conducting an interview to select teachers for a teachers’ training college in Nigeria. I went to Delhi and attended the interview. Out of the 10 candidates only I was selected because I was the only candidate with MEd degree.
I had an enjoyable teaching career in Nigeria – Katsina Teachers’ Training College, where the First Prime minister of Independent Nigeria, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, had his teacher’s training.
Now the MEd course of the Nirmala Institute is 50 years old. Many of my classmates and professors are no more. But I will ever remember all of them with love and gratitude. My salute to Nirmala Institute of Education.
