Salesian Education Leaders in South Asia Call for Holistic Formation and Responsible AI Integration
28 Oct 2026
Chennai, October 24
Salesian Education Leaders in South Asia Call for Holistic Formation and Responsible AI Integration
28 October 2026
News reported by: Fr P D Johny sdb
The Annual Meeting of Education and Culture Coordinators and School Coordinators of the Salesian Provinces of South Asia concluded at The Citadel, Salesian Provincial House, Chennai, with a renewed commitment to holistic youth formation, educational innovation and stronger interprovincial collaboration.
Held on October 23–24, the two-day meeting brought together representatives from 11 Salesian Provinces to examine challenges in education, share best practices and strengthen the common educational mission inspired by St. John Bosco.
During the Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Don Bosco Lourdusamy SDB, Provincial of Chennai, highlighted educational leadership, institutional identity and student well-being. He emphasised that Salesian education must combine loving kindness with firmness for the integral development of young people.
Fr. (Dr.) John Parankimalil SDB, Secretary of the Salesian Provincial Conference of South Asia (SPCSA) and South Asia Coordinator for Education and Culture, led sessions on “Educating Hearts, Transforming Cultures” and “The Ministry of Education: Assessing Our Impact.” He urged participants to move beyond institutional management and become catalysts for transformation. Drawing on Don Bosco’s Preventive System, integral formation and shared mission, he called on Salesian institutions to become centres of hope, inclusion, excellence and human development, especially for poor and vulnerable young people.
The meeting featured sessions on child safety and institutional risk management, conducted by Shri Vikram Deshmukh and Shri Pradeep of CACA. Fr. Patrick Lepcha SDB, Director of DBYA, led a session on Salesian accompaniment, highlighting personal guidance and supportive relationships in education.
A major highlight was the panel discussion on “Education and Artificial Intelligence Today,” featuring Mr Satish S., Mr Rennis Joseph and Mr Mark Anthony Sequeira, moderated by Fr. Raj Kumar Fernando SDB. The discussion examined responsible AI integration, digital citizenship, experiential learning, critical thinking, employability and parental collaboration. The panellists stressed that technology should enhance educational opportunities without replacing human relationships, personal accompaniment and moral responsibility.
Provincial representatives presented reports on institutional achievements, educational practices, faculty development and emerging challenges. The presentations supported mutual learning, networking and the exchange of experiences, reinforcing the shared commitment to quality, inclusive Salesian education across South Asia.
Other key presentations included an educational opportunity announced by SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, offering free education to three top-performing students certified by a Salesian educational institution. Fr. P. T. Joseph introduced the SPCSA's digital communication platforms, while DEEPAGAM presented initiatives in faith formation and value education.
During the concluding business session, participants identified several priorities for strengthening Salesian education across the region: enhanced interprovincial networking, systematic documentation and sharing of good practices, continuous teacher formation, context-sensitive curricula, transparent educational governance, and the responsible integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
Fr. Babu Stephen SDB of Shillong Province was elected to assist with South Asia-level data collection for Education and Culture. Guwahati Province was proposed as the venue for the next annual meeting in October 2027, followed by Tiruchy Province.
Summing up the spirit and purpose of the gathering, Fr. John Parankimalil affirmed that every young person possesses dignity, potential and a future worth nurturing. He underscored the central conviction guiding the Salesian educational mission: “Education must therefore be an experience of HOPE.”
