The Don Bosco Night Study Class was first started by Bro. Anthony Rocha in June 1980. There were 30 boys, mainly Tamilians from Antophill, attending the study class. They used to study in the tution room near the 2^nd floor study hall in the Boarding Section. There were 2-3 boarders, mainly Xth STD. Students who used to assist the boys. They studied from 6p.m. to 8p.m. after which they were given dinner in the boarders’ refectory.

Fr. Lionel Braganza took over in June 1982 when he came to Matunga as Vice-Principal. The study class was transferred to the 1^st std. class in the Primary Section. Boys belonging mainly to the socio-economically poor section and studying in standards 1^st to IX were admitted. There were around 60 boys who were given guided study by boys of the Interact Club of the Don Bosco High School. After class, the boys went for dinner to the Boarders’ refectory. Their dinner was usually, curry and rice, in fact, they were given the boarders ate. Those boys who passed in their exams and tests were given free membership cards to the Savio Club.

It was in June 1984 that the Don Bosco Youth Centre was formed with Fr. Rommel D’Souza as its director. The DON BOSCO NIGHT STUDY CLASS was one of its projects, and Bro. Xavier Devdas, who had come to Matunga as a student of Social Work, was in-charge. The main aim of the study class was to provide the poor slum youth with free guided study and a place to study. Boys of all castes mainly of Stds. VIII, IX & X used the facility. A trip was made to the nearby L.K.Waghji Municipal School and the boys were told of the opportunities available. There were roughly 50 boys in the VIII, 44 in the IX & 24 in the X std. The boys were not only given study facilities, but were also coached in subjects like English and Maths by teachers like late Mr. Donald, Bros. Xavier, Kenndy and Mr. Michael Raymond. These classes were held on the 1^st floor of the Primary Section in three different classes. After class, the boys were given a wholesome dinner laid out on the tables outside the class. Games like square-ball and football were orgnised during the year. Bio-data on each student was taken and recorded. Punctuality was stressed upon and therefore daily attendance was taken. The X std. boys were given residential facilities one month before their exams. They were provided with a conducive environment which prooved very beneficial to studying. The highlight was the annual picnic, where the boys were taken to Gorai Beach.

In June 1985, Bro. Kenndy took over as Director, from Bro. Xavier. It was decided to hold the Study Classes in the Secondary Section. The VII Std. Class was also started to give opportunities to more boys. Other municipal schools of our area were contacted and boys informed. The strength of the Night Study Class increased from 118 boys in 1984-85 to 157 boys in 1985-86. More attention was paid to the X std boys. They were coached in Maths, Science and Hindi.   A special study camp was organized in the Diwali Vacation, when they were taught English, History and Geography. They were also given residential & studying facilities one month before their SSC exams as in the previous Year. Also, during the Diwali Vacation, the boys of the other classes besides X std. were given courses in Screen Printing, Typewriting, Music and Electricity. Here the boys were given a chance to exhibit their talents. Besides the academic development of the boys, they were also given a chance to discover their hidden talents by the various tournaments and competitions like Handicraft, Drawings, Singing, Skits, Dancing, Athletics etc… Home visits were also conducted to some of the boys’ homes. The main highlights of the year were: the Annual Picnic to Gorai, the Annual Prize Distribution Day on which Parents were invited to an entertainment Programme, and Sports Day on which track and field events were conducted and certificates as well as medals were awarded to the winners. The teaching staff numbered six. 76% of the boys were promoted at end of the year.

In June 1986, Bro. Baptist Monteiro, who was previously teaching the study class, took over as the Director. He was also engaged in his second year training in Social Work. This year, some more municipal schools were approached and informed. The number almost doubled from 157 boys in the previous year to 303 boys. It was also decided that more attention would be paid to the boys who had failed their SSC exams in the previous year, and encourage them to reappear. Ten such boys appeared for the October’ 86 Exam. The Diwali vacation vocational course was conducted on the same lines at last year. The Annual Picnic to National Park, Borivili was organized and other event. The March Past was very interesting. Certificates, medals and prizes were awarded to the boys by Rev. Fr. Alfred Mariotta. A shield was also awarded to the Best House. Various other co-curricular activities like Quiz competition, fancy dress, skit and tournaments were conducted.

 

 

 

 

The major bulk especially of Stds. VIII, IX & X come from L.K.Waghji Municipal School. This is an English Medium School in which boys speaking Tamil are admitted. They also have a Gujarati Medium, in which some of the boys study. The VII std. boys come mostly from The Sewree, Wadala Estate School (Marathi Med. and Telugu Medium). The rest of the boys come from Lions Pioneer (Marathi), New Sion Secondary (Marathi), Andhra Education Society (English), and other neighbouring schools. Most of the above schools run in the shift system, either morning or afternoon.

 

 

 

Most of the boys reside in the alum areas on Antop hill (Gate No.4 which is near the railway tracks) and Dharavi. Many of them live in huts made of wood and tine, while some live in permanent structures of bricks. Though many of these houses have electricity, the boys face constant disturbances like blurring parents not being well educated (i.e. studied upto std.V) or even illiterate cannot help them in their studies. They cannot afford to send them for tuitions because of the meager income.

Some of the boys are even working as well as studying. They earn money by distributing newspapers in the morning, evening or distributing milk or doing odd jobs.

 

 

The boys who come here to study are given a wholesome meal of bread and dhal. The main reason of providing them with this meal is that they come directly from school and hence are hungry. Besides they do not have a proper lunch in the afternoon. Some of the boys have only one meal during the day. The dhal is prepared by the kitchen while the bread is supplied by the bakery.

 

 

            The boys are taught the following subjects:

Std.    X – Maths, Science, Social Studies, Hindi & English.

Std.   IX – Maths and English

Std. VIII – Maths and English.

Std. VII – Maths and English.

 

            There are some teachers who come to help us from outside mainly young college students. Though Maths is their main weakness, majority of the boys specially those of the vernacular mediums find English difficult. The teachers come at least thrice of the teachers.

            Guides are made available for the VIII, IX & X Std. boys. A lot of attention and encouragement is given to the X std. boys, as they appear for their SSC exam and our main aim is to help them to at least PASS. Thus, to enable them to achieve this goal, facilities for study and boarding are given to the one month before their exams begin. The main reason of doing so that there are lots of disturbances and distractions at home. Besides they have tension and other social problems. This one month boarding facility provides them with a full meal of breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. They are sent home once a weak so that they are in touch with their home.

 

 

            Daily attendance is taken in a register and the irregular boys pulled up. There is always a great influx at the beginning of the academic year that is in June but the number gradually went on dropping during the year. Many boys come to join the study class in the middle of the year i.e. August, Nov. The attendance tends to be low during the monsoons and the Ganpati festival.

 

 

            Besides studies the boys are provided with games facilities. Those boys who come early from school play games like football, cricket, square-ball, volley-ball & basket-ball. They are encouraged to play various other games too. As two hours are short, there is limited time for other activities besides study. Yet competitions like singing, quiz, etc. are organized once a month or two months so that the boys are given a chance to display their God given talents.

            A Sports Day is organized in early February. There are various events for the three age groups of juniors, Inters and seniors. Field events as well as track events are organized. Certificates, medals and prizes are awarded to the winners.

 

 

Std. VII: Miss Sujata Mohanty---------(English & Maths)----------since June 1986.

Std. VIII: Miss Darsara Nexco----------(English & Maths)----------since June 1987.

Std.    IX: Mr. Michael Raymond-------(English & Maths)----------since June 1985.

Std.     X: Mr. Gautam Mohanty--------(Physics, Chem. & Bio.)---since June 1985

                Mr. Inderpal Singh------------(Algebra & Geometry)-----since June 1987.

                Mr. Mokashi-------------------(Hindi)------------------------since June 1987.

                Mr. Bantist Monteiro----(History,Geography & Civics)--since June 1987.

                Mr. Michael Raymond-------(English)----------------------since June 1987.

 

 

Mr. Singh(Don Bosco)--------------Std.     X-----(Hindi)-------------1985-87

Mr. Donald(Don Bosco)------------Std. VIII-----(English)-----------1984-85--EXPIRED

Miss. Clare Alvaro(D.B.)-----------Std.     X-----(History)-----------(Holiday class)

Miss. Mary Arokrain----------------Std.     X-----(Geography)-------(Holiday class)

Miss. Janet----------------------------Std. VIII-----(English)-----------(1985-86)

 

 

Std.    IX: Mr. M.P.Gupta -------( Geometry)----------since 2000-09

Std.     X: Mr. Kishor       -------( Algebra)----------since 2000-02

 

Std.    X: Mr. M.P.Gupta -------( Geometry)----------since 2000-10

          X: Mr. Shrad Nari -------( Algebra)----------since 2002-10

          X: Mis. Mansi     ----------(English)-----------since 2003-05

 

Std.    All Std: Miss. Namrata Cheke -----(Computer) -------- since 2007 - 10