PRESS RELEASE REGARDING ST. MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL

Around 150 years ago the Bombay St. Mary’s Society was established by the Society of Jesus, a premier society in the field of Education, which runs, manages and conducts institutions of excellence such as XLRI, St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, Ahmedabad St. Xavier’s College, Loyola College Chennai, St. Xavier’s Kolkatta, St. Joseph’s Trichi and Bangalore.

The Bombay St. Mary’s Society established the St. Mary’s (ICSE) High School at Mazgaon about 148 years ago. This school is affiliated to the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi. In the year 1932 the Society established the St. Mary’s High School (SSC), presently affiliated to the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. For the past 78 years St. Mary’s High School is considered as an institution, which imparts quality education. Admission to this school is most sought after. The Jesuits have ensured that alongwith academic education the student is inculcated with value education. The school has achieved cent % results in the SSC Board examination consistently for the past 10 years. Majority of the students have passed in First Class with distinction.

The alumni of St. Mary’s High School (SSC) are today holding high offices in our country as well as abroad. This is only because of the quality of education and values imparted by the institution. The action against the school has been initiated with a pre-conceived mind and at the behest of certain vested interest.

The management of the school is being harassed by vested interest having political connections. The harassment unleashed is with a preconceived and pre-calculated motive. The SSC Section is aided by the State. However, since Academic Year 2004 not a single naya paise has been released by the Education Department towards non-salary grants.

Entire non-salary expenditure has been borne by the management through its own resources. Fr. Baptist, a Jesuit priest and former Principal of St. Xavier’s School, Mumbai (for ten years) was transferred by the Society of Jesus to St. Mary’s High School (SSC). The Education Department refused to grant approval and has kept it pending till today. The Education Department nominated the Senior most teacher as Acting Principal. This was deliberately done with a motive to destablise the school.

The Education Department, without notice to the School, lodged a complaint with the Economic Offence Wing of the Mumbai Police alleging that the School had illegally collected huge amounts and misappropriated it. The Economic Offence Wing, after detailed investigations, has concluded that the Complaint is false and has closed the case. The Dy. Director of Education, however, on the very same charge with some other frivolous and flimsy grounds and without considering a detailed explanation supported by documentary evidence, has by an ex-parte order dated 24th May, 2011 de-recognised the St. Mary’s High School (SSC). The Order has been deliberately passed closed to re-opening to jeopardize a recognized, private and minority educational institution of repute.

The Order is, on the face of it, unsustainable. The management is in the process of preferring an Appeal for recalling the ex-parte order of de-recognition passed by the Dy. Director of Education.

The management hereby appeals to the parents and students in particular not to be perturbed and extend their support to the management at this critical juncture.