WE BUILD A NEW SOCIETY

Gender inequality pervaded the whole world in the 19th century, and India was no exception. The condition was notably worse than in many other countries. India is a complex society with citizens from various social, religious, and economic backgrounds. However, the suppression of women was prevalent everywhere to an equal degree. From the day she is born until the day she dies, an Indian woman is expected to be under the control of a man and to serve him without question.

Mother Gnanamma was born during this period in history on planet Earth. Despite her parents treating her as equal to their male siblings and being liberal and understanding, the societal norms surrounding her exerted influence. However, Mother Gnanamma steadfastly believed that women are born free, precious in the eyes of God, and entitled to life and freedom. She was a gentle child who found it not difficult to adapt to societal expectations, yet simultaneously, she cultivated greater strength and determination to improve the situation. She resolved to set an example for women and demonstrate to the world the potential of a powerful and graceful woman. Through her efforts to establish herself, she inspired every woman who admired her.

It is hopelessly impossible to eradicate darkness, but a single lit candle is enough to illuminate an entire room and dispel the darkness silently. Spiritual individuals do not fear adverse situations, as their minds are already focused on finding solutions. Mother Gnanamma, although not highly educated herself, was deeply troubled by the illiteracy and darkness prevailing around her. Consequently, she could not simply ignore it. Thus, the first girls’ school in the entire Kilacheri mission was established on May 3rd, 1863, just three years after the inception of the first boys’ school.

Mother Gnanamma never sought mere temporary solutions for societal issues, but instead, she looked far ahead, envisioning a future beyond a hundred years. It was this foresight that led her to establish a school and a Religious Congregation, which have now stood for one hundred and fifty years. Her faith was unwavering, and her vision was steadfast, impervious to any storm. When the first two professed sisters passed away within two years of each other, one might have anticipated the collapse of her dream. Yet, with divine intervention, the Congregation was revived through the assistance of a 16-year-old novice. Isn't it the audacity of her faith that upheld the Congregation against all odds?

The daughters are in her footsteps in their living and apostolate

As the daughters of Mother Gnanamma, we have been called to continue her noble mission of educating the underprivileged in society. Our Congregation was established with a clear aim and a definite purpose, which is 'To Educate'. The educational ministry initiated by our Foundress adopts a multifaceted and comprehensive approach, as our mother believed in more than just secular education. The key aspects of secular and religious education our Mother aimed to impart include: fostering unwavering faith; experiencing God personally; cultivating wisdom and insight; promoting harmonious living; preparing for self-sufficiency; acquiring knowledge and skills; achieving economic independence; offering assistance to those in need; and innovating solutions to existing problems.

Incorporating all these aspects, our Foundress endeavored to impart holistic education to the girls under her care. This model and these principles reflect the vision of our Education Ministry, an extension of our Foundress’s vision.

A motivated quality service

The primary focus of our educational apostolate has been to provide quality education to the marginalized, downtrodden, and weaker sections of society. This charism is derived from the vision of our Foundress, Mother Gnanamma, which keeps us all marching ahead year after year, towards greater commitment. Ultimately, we are convinced that we serve the Lord through service to humanity.

Vision

To provide humanizing and liberalizing education to form responsible citizens who in solidarity with others will create a just society.

Mission

• To empower young womenwith knowledge, skills, and competence.
• To provide them with opportunities to understand present society and critically analyze its structures.
• To enable them to contribute to creating a more humane and just society.

Aims and objectives

• 01. To foster academic excellence
  Through the study of Science, Humanities, and Commerce, students who enter the portals of this institution shall acquire sound and thorough knowledge in academics, be competent in intellectual pursuits, and become preferred personnel for any organization.
• 02. Personal and interpersonal skills
  To facilitate the discovery of their potential, develop their talents and aesthetic sense, and inculcate soft skills that would help foster harmonious interpersonal relationships and teamwork. To cultivate sincere respect for the essential dignity, freedom, and equality of every person.
• 03. Spiritual pursuit
  The extracurricular activities shall provide young women with knowledge of the world, religions, and society, shaping them into morally sound citizens, who possess personal conviction, deep compassion, competence, and commitment to the larger world community.
• 04. Education is an atmosphere of learning and growing
  The development of a person cannot be limited to just absorbing facts. It includes the growth of the body, mind, and soul of the learner. As schooling is a time of change, we concentrate on the all-round development of the pupils, enabling them to grow physically, psychologically, spiritually, and socially. It is a time of searching during which students strive for partnership and identity. Hence, we journey with the students and enlighten them to choose the right direction in life through holistic education.

The holistic and integral approach in our schools

To ensure the holistic and integral development of every student in all the dimensions of growth, we focus on the following:

• 01. Availing quality education for all
  The Congregation’s primary focus is to educate the weaker sections of society and guide them toward creating a just society. The Congregation extends its services to any place where its assistance is needed to illuminate the lives of people in darkness. The education provided in our institutions is not solely academic but also life-oriented.
• 02. Building a standard, superior, and advanced learning system
  The Congregation is committed to ensuring quality assurance. It facilitates collaboration across the system, working with all stakeholders - students, parents, and teachers - to meet the needs of learners, society, and the economy.
• 03. Creating a learner-centered, affordable, and accessible learning system
  The Congregation ensures access to a full range of affordable, quality, and advanced learning opportunities for students. The Ministry supports flexible learner pathways, provides student financial assistance through scholarships, fee concessions, and free education, and rewards excellence through scholarships. Additionally, it collaborates with alumnae associations to support lifelong learning.
• 04. Developing skilled persons who contribute to economic prosperity
  Education at St.Anne’s Institution aims to cultivate leadership skills to develop a skilled and productive workforce capable of meeting the evolving needs of the global economy. We are dedicated to preparing students with the necessary skills and talents to contribute to a better and more prosperous future.
• 05. Ensuring that the students grow into value-based persons
  The Congregation prioritizes the growth of students, aiming for each one to develop into a holistic, integrated, and value-based individual capable of contributing to the construction of a better and more peaceful society.
• 06. Fostering excellence in research, innovation, and employability
  The Congregation collaborates with students, teachers, educational departments, like-minded individuals, and parents to coordinate, cooperate, and promote research, innovation, extension, relevance, and modification. This ensures that students benefit from our institutions, enabling them to become proficient, efficient, and eligible to lead their secular, scientific, and commercial lives in society.

We are imbibed with the spirit of our Foundress

Education in its present state primarily focuses on the transmission of knowledge. A quality education possesses the transformative ability to impact both individuals and societies. W.B. Yeats famously stated, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” While some interpret ‘quality’ in education solely through academic excellence, measured by marks, we view it as the holistic development of individuals and the instilling of a sense of responsibility towards the world around us.

Educational institutions play a crucial role in articulating and imparting value systems. They aid students in developing their talents, shaping their character, establishing personal identity, facilitating social interaction, and instilling social responsibility.

We always consider imparting education as a noble mission, wherein students undergo all-round formation. We prioritize girls from marginalized sections of society. This vision is inherited from our Foundress, Servant of God Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma. In the 19th century, she contemplated the plight of women deprived of education and marginalized in society. She discerned that all her energies should be dedicated to dispelling the darkness enveloping the poor girls in Kilacheri village, Tamil Nadu. She lit the candle of education and empowered women to face life's challenges.

OUR STUDENT-CENTERED ACTIVITIES

Our instructional style

The most significant action our Foundress undertook was to listen to the pleas of the impoverished girls and to respond with compassion, shaping them into competent and committed individuals. Therefore, the education we provide incorporates current trends and knowledge across all fields, including science, art, and history. This ensures that our students are well-informed individuals. This information and knowledge serve to reform their character by exposing them to the proper and relevant social realities. Ultimately, this reformation transforms our students into competent, committed, and compassionate individuals. This holistic formation enables them to embody values, sociability, employability, reliability, and skillfulness. In essence, the education provided at St.Anne’s aims to INFORM with appropriate knowledge, REFORM character, and TRANSFORM individuals into competent, committed, and compassionate persons, and finally, it gives a FORM of personality that is skilled, able, and noble.

04. Cultural Education

We establish a conducive atmosphere for students to learn about and appreciate the rich cultural heritage of India. Through the celebration of national and religious festivals, we integrate these occasions to raise awareness among students about various social issues and foster their growth in social consciousness.