History Of ST. JOHN'S PRIVATE I. T. I.

The Beginning

In the year 1960, the Brothers of Saint Gabriel were invited by Rt. Rev. Msgr. James Mendonsa the then Bishop of Tiruchirappalli to run an Elementary School, which had already existed in the village of Manjampatty, administered by the Diocese.

Bro. John of the Cross, the then Provincial Superior of India, with his thirst for activities and excellence in administration, sent Bro. Montfort of the Cross to Manjampatty to establish a new House. Bro. Montfort of the Cross took charge of St. Antony’s Elementary School from Fr. Antony, Parish Priest of Manaparai.

Most Rev. Dr. P. Justin Diraviam, D.D., D.C.L., J.U.D, Archbishop of Madurai, thought of starting an orphanage and Technical School at Manaparai. St. John’s Boys’ Town was started on 9th June 1961 under the Management of the Brothers of St, Gabriel, taking over the Management of St. Antony’s Elementary School where the orphans could study. Ten acres of land near the Trunk Road between Manjampatty and Theerampatti was purchased and two buildings – the Brothers’ House and St. John’s Orphanage were constructed.

In the year 1961, forty-eight boys from various parishes of Tiruchirappalli diocese were admitted to St. John's Boys' Town Orphanage without any discrimination of religion, caste and creed. Most of these boys were destitute children, delinquents or orphans coming from most backward areas and were sent to the Institution by the social workers and the Parish Priests.

Technical School

St. Antony’s Elementary School was upgraded to VIII standard in course of time. The boys leaving the school, With Std. VIII qualification could not secure any job for earning their livelihood. So the need for starting an Industrial School was felt and ‘Carpentry & Cabinet Making’ trade was started in the year 1968. After the middle school education, these boys had a chance of learning Carpentry & Cabinet Making for three years under the provisions of the code of Regulation for Industrial Schools, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Department of Employment & Training. In June 1968 by the efforts of Bro. Thomas Tolentino, the trade was accorded permanent recognition by the Director of Employment & Training, Government of Tamil Nadu.

The Institution can not forget the tireless effort and interest taken by Bro. Louis Bureau, to get some financial assistance for the starting of the Technical School. The construction work of the Technical School Building was started in February 1966. The Technical School buildings were blessed on 22.08.1968.

As the boys did not have inclination to learn Carpentry. In August 1970, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle) trade was started under the state pattern scheme as per code of Regulation for the Industrial Schools. It was recognized by the State Government. This trade was more attractive but the qualification required was Secondary School Leaving Certificate.

High School

In 1977 the Middle School was upgraded as a High School. Bro. Leopold Joseph’s efforts were highly rewarded when the first batch of the S.S.L.C. boys secured cent percent success in April 1978.

Expansion Of The Technical School

Rev. Bro. Leopold Joseph, introduced the following new Technical Trades in the year 1978 with the help of Netherlands & German Governments, through the Good offices of CEBEMO and MISEREOR.

  • Machinist
  • Turner
  • Electrician
  • Fitter
  • Carpenter (One year duration).

The trainees are coached up for the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) Trade Certificate. Buildings for the Technical School and an imposing hostel building – ‘Annai Illam’ sprang up and several expensive and sophisticated machines arrived.

Rev. Bro. Oliver Ericat, the then Principal of I.T.I. was very dynamic in administration and had taken much pain to get affiliation of all the above technical trades with National Council for Vocation Training, Government of India, Department of Labour, New Delhi in 1979.

Trades

A detailed statement of trades and trainees undergoing training now are furnished here below.

S.NO Name of the Trade Yr.of est. No.of units Duration Roll Aided / Unaided Recognition State / Central
1. Carpentry & Cabinet Making 1968 3 3 yrs 39 Aided State Govt.
2. Mechanic (M.V.) 1970 4 2 Yrs 84 Aided/Unaided Central Govt.
3. Machinist 1979 2 2 Yrs 07 Unaided -do-
4. Electrician 1979 2 2 Yrs 36 Unaided -do-
5. Turner 1979 2 2 Yrs 00 Unaided -do-
6 Fitter 1983 4 2 Yrs 34 Aided/Unaided -do-
7. Carpenter 1979 1 1 Yr 00 Unaided -do-
Total
200

The final examination for the course under Serial No.1 above is conducted by State Government and Industrial School Certificate to the passed out trainees are issued.

For the courses from Sl. No. 2 to 7, the trainees appear for All India Trade Test conducted by the Government of India and National Trade Certificate (NTC) to the passed out trainees are issued.

As stated above only Carpentry, Fitter 2 Units and Mechanic (MV) 2 Units are aided and Government gives Maintenence Grant for these trades. The remaining trades like Machinist, Turner, Electrician, Fitter 2 units and Carpenter (one year) are not aided by the Government and it is maintained by the meager source of income received from the production unit of this Institute. To give intensive Practical training to the trainees, the management is undertaking some job orders like manufacturing wooden and steel furniture, repair of automobile, machining & fabrication works of Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd., Ordnance Factory, and Heavy Alloy Penetrator Project etc..

Managers / Principals

With the able administration of Brothers of St. Gabriel, particularly by the former Managers & Principals of St. John’s I.T.I . this Institution has well developed and equipped with modern machineries and buildings. The lists of the managers / principals are given below…

S.NO Name Year
1. Rev. Bro. Montfort Of The Cross June 1961 - June 1964
2. Rev. Bro. Maurice Joseph June 1964 - April 1966
3. Rev. Bro. Sebastain Joseph April 1966 - October 1969
4. Rev. Bro. Thomas Of Tolentino October 1969 - March 1973
5. Rev. Bro. Leopold Joseph March 1973 - June 1979
6. Rev. Bro. Lawrence Gabriel June 1979 - June 1980
7. Rev. Bro. Oliver Erikat June 1980 - June 1986
8. Rev. Bro. Lawrence Gabriel June 1986 - July 1991
9. Rev. Bro. Thomas June 1986 - July 1991
10. Rev. Bro. Gnanapragasam July 1991 - May 1996
11. Rev. Bro. Arockiaraj .A May 1996 - June 1999
12. Rev. Bro. T.J. Joseph June 1999 - May 2001
13. Rev. Bro. Xavior Montfort June 2001 - May 2005
14. Rev. Bro. P. Lawrence Diviaraj June 2001 - May 2003
15. Rev. Bro. J. Gomas Arockiaraj June 2005 - May 2009
16. Rev.Bro.Gnanapragasam June 2009 - May 2011
17. Rev. Bro. M.Arockiasamy June 2010 - May 2013
18. Rev. Bro. Y. Joseph June 2011 - may 2013
19. Rev.Bro.Gnanapragasam June 2013 - May 2014
20. Rev.Bro.Martin De Porus April 2013 - April 2014
21. Rev. Bro. Gomas Arockiaraj June 2014 - April 2016
22. Rev.Bro.Gnanapragasam April 2016 – May 2019
23. Rev. Bro. Sebastin Joseph May 2019 – May 2021
24. Rev.Bro.Justin June 2016 – Sep 2020
25. Rev.Bro.Stephen Sep 2020 – Till Date
26. Rev.Bro.J.Jesuraj May 2021 – Till Date

Staff

The categories of staff are as follow…

S.NO Categories Total
1. Teaching Staff (Government Aided) 06
2. Teaching Staff (Unaided) 11
3. Non-Teaching Staff (Unaided) 03
4. Permanent Workers (Unaided) 10
Total
30

Spiritual & Moral

Periodical spiritual activities are conducted to care for the trans-physical longing of the students. Talks of life career are delivered to the boys on every Monday during the morning assembly. Meditation is conducted on every Tuesday and Friday morning. Guidance and counseling is also done.. Twice a week Catechism for catholic students and moral classes for the students of other faiths are conducted by the Brothers and staff.