History of the school

St Francis School is situated in the district of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal. It is 60 kilometers away from the Kolkata city and on the border of Bangladesh. The school is situated in a remote village where the Bangladesh refugees have settled. It was Rev. Fr Henry Saldanha who was at the time professor at the Morning Star Seminary in Barackpur, took the initiative to fulfill the need of education of the local people. He was a great inspiration and an instrument behind the great success of a well established English Medium School today.

In 1997 Sr Jaya C. Joseph along with Sr Cynthia Pashan started K.G. class with only seven children without having a proper school building. After two years a school building with walls of Bamboo Mats and tiles was put up. Thereafter a hostel for the children was started with ten children. In 1999 when class I was started a few Catholic children who wanted to study in our school and a few children who were studying in Bengali medium school joined our School. Since most of the Catholic children were sponsored it was easy for them to continue their studies in English medium school.

Sr Apoline Pinto succeeded Sr Jaya in 2001. In the year 2005 when the first batch of children progressed to class VI. Sr Apoline Pinto began the work of obtaining the No Objection Certificate from the West Bengal Government. Meanwhile Providence in a dream inspired Don Francesco of Florence, Italy to help Guma. He paid a visit to Guma in 2006 and willingly offered help for the construction of a hall and II floor of the School. The efforts of Sr Apoline Pinto and Sr Rupin Veigas yielded fruit and the School got NOC on December 17, 2007.

Sr Cymprose D’Almeida who took up the administration in July 2007 worked for the affiliation of the School to Council for Indian School Certificate Examination Board, New Delhi. Provisional affiliation was granted in the year 2009.

Sr Philomena Fernandes took up the administration in 2011 and worked hard with the support of other Sisters for the permanent NOC and affiliation. At present there are 1350 students studying from L.K.G to Class X. The school has obtained the permanent NOC on December 27, 2012. On 4 th May 2015 the permanent affiliation from ICSE Board, Delhi is obtained.

The land where the School is located is owned by the North Province. Sr Philomena Fernandes is instrumental in bringing up the School to what it stands today with her untiring strength and ability along with continual support of the Sisters.

The developments that have taken place in the past years are: a spacious school building, sufficient classrooms, a well-equipped library, physics chemistry biology and computer labs, the renovation of the school road, renovation of principal’s office and a waiting room for the visitors and the construction of the compound wall.

Education is the key to empowering the marginalized so that they can manifest their God-given dignity. In imitation of Jesus who made a preferential option for the poor, in the year 2011 regular classes in Bengali medium have been introduced for the less privileged children of the locality. 11 students were enrolled in the first batch and 18 in the second batch. Keen interest is taken in helping these students. Many parents of our locality are encouraged by this gesture and are willing to educate their children here at present we have 40 students. The Sisters take it as a challenge to continue the good work undertaken.

The quality education at St Francis School Guma is an eye opener for the people of Guma and surrounding villages that education can make a positive impact in their life and livelihood. Literacy rate has gone high in the vicinity.

Thanks to the Sisters and the staff as they are dedicated and are in constant contact with the people through visits. To introduce modernization and Digital technology in the school are plans for the future.