Our vision is to Empower Every Child to Learn, Grow, and Succeed “Our nation requires a well-educated society, and that is the mission we are committed to,” says Dr. Oommen David, Founder-Director of Holy Angels School and Junior College. He affirms that education alone has the transformative power to shape responsible and conscientious citizens, reflecting the core of his vision.
Dr. David did not start an educational institution as another business after earning money by any means. Traditionally, his father and many others in his family were teachers. Holding fast to the motto that education is wealth, this native of Mannar, Alappuzha, entered the field of education to share that wealth with everyone in this society. He started his school in Dombivli in 1990. Holy Angels School and Junior College, which offers education from nursery to junior college under the CBSE syllabus, today has more than 2,000 students and about 60 teachers.
‘This institution has come to this point after facing many challenges,’ Dr. David, who has been a teacher in various schools and colleges in Mumbai for 45 years, said. Today, Holy Angels is the only school in Thane with an ISO certificate. This is the 16th consecutive time that the school has achieved 100 percent success. ‘This school has highly qualified teachers. Moreover, special attention is paid to each child.’ Dr. David revealed the secret of his institution achieving 100% success every time.
“If some children fall behind, the teachers give them special attention and bring them to the forefront. Every teacher here is ready to go to any extent to mould an enlightened nation,” he continued. The government should be able to provide value-based education. They should bring forward a curriculum that is in line with that. Similarly, the government should also pay attention to implementing a job-oriented education program after a certain stage. Dr. David also pointed out that there has been a qualitative change in the education sector in many foreign countries.
The improve the situation, the state itself needs to take the initiative. Unfortunately, government schools do not pay enough attention to this matter, as do government institutions. The importance that South Indians give to education is not given by those here, Dr. David continued. Children here usually turn to many other fields. That is why I first mentioned that we should give emphasis to vocational education according to the interests of the children.
This educational institution has not yet been granted minority status, he said. Education plays a great role in awakening good thoughts in the minds of people and shaping their character. Therefore, I am extremely proud to have been able to build such a big institution in Maharashtra after leaving my native land, Dr. David said.
Dr. David has been in the teaching profession for about 40 years. After working for 16 years at the Model English School and St. Thomas English School in Dombivli, Oommen formed the Trinity Education Society in 1990 and started Holy Angels. His greatest inspiration for this was his wife and teacher, Mrs. Leela Oommen. Now their son, Bejoy Oommen, is the principal of this school. Following in his parents’ footsteps, Bejoy has taken up teaching as his duty.
Dr. David has received many awards, including the Bharat Gaurav Ratna Award by the Global Achievers Foundation. The award was presented by then Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari at a seminar held in New Delhi. This award is a recognition of outstanding achievements and distinguished service to the nation. He has also received the Rotary Club Award, Bharatiya Lokadhara Sahitya Kala Akademi Award, Rajiv Gandhi Shiromani Award, International Goldstar Millennium Award (Bangkok), Jwala Education Award, Maharashtra Achievement Award and many more.
Among the hundreds of schools in Mumbai run by the likes of Ambani and Birla, where only the children of the rich study, it is most noteworthy that Holy Angels, run by a Malayali, Oommen David, works with the idea of education for all children.