History

Network Background

The Jesuit Educational Association (legal title: Jesuit Conference of India-Educational Section) was constituted in 1961 with the aim of providing Jesuits with a forum of reflection on the educational apostolate of the Society in the context of changing conditions in South Asia. All Jesuit educational institutions in South Asia are members of the JEA. The secretariat, assisted especially by the Province/Region Coordinators of Education, seeks to animate Jesuit educational institutions to a deeper understanding of the Jesuit vision in Education especially through the implementation of the Characteristics of Jesuit Education and Ignatian Pedagogy (IPP). This entails enabling the institutions to be rooted in the local context, to network with like-minded institutions and be instruments of social change. Every year the province/region coordinators, who form together the statutory 'JEA National Committee', meet with the secretary to review this apostolate and plan for the future. The JEA Secretary is ex-officio the National Coordinator of the Federation of Jesuit Alumni Associations of South Asia.

Jesuit Education draws its inspiration from the life of Ignatius, the Constitutions of the Society and the best practices in vogue at that time. These last mentioned were put together in what is known as The Ratio Studiorum of 1599. The Ratio gives Jesuit schools a vision and a system that bound them together into a unity and infused a sense of purpose in what was being done in Jesuit schools all over the world. It earned the Jesuits the nickname, 'the great schoolmasters of Europe'. As a system it was in use for two centuries, but its influence was felt for five hundred years.

Due to increased governmental involvement in education, it has become impossible to have one common system for Jesuit schools all over the world. However, a strong need was felt all over the Society to have a common vision in spite of local differences in the way education may be imparted. Accordingly in 1986 December, Fr. General, Peter Hans Kolvenhach, promulgated The Characteristics of Jesuit Education. It was meant to do for our times what the Ratio did in the 16th and 17th centuries, namely, give a vision and mission to Jesuit Education. There are 8 major characteristics that define Jesuit education: PERSON-ORIENTED, INTEGRAL, VALUE-BASED, PURSUING EXCELLENCE, ADAPTING FOR RELEVANCE, TOWARDS A JUST SOCIETY, PARTICIPATIVE, FAITH-INSPIRED. But vision and mission alone are not enough. The teacher wanted the wherewithal to make the Characteristics come alive in the classroom and in the daily life of the school. Accordingly, in 1993, the International Commission for the Apostolate of Jesuit Education prepared what is called The Ignatian Pedagogy Process (I.P.P.). It is meant to introduce into the classroom and school life an Ignatian Way of Teaching and Administering. The I.P.P. draws its inspiration from the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises and has 5 important elements: CONTEXT, EXPERIENCE, REFLECTION, ACTION AND EVALUATION. These are now applied to the ministry of teaching and learning.

Accomplishments 

1. Brought all the Jesuit Schools under one Organizational Structure. Worked in close collaboration with ICAJE (International Commission for Jesuit Education). JEA Occasionally conducted National  and Regional workshops and consultation on specific topics. 
2. Coordination Services: Given the number of Jesuit Provinces and Regions in India and a still bigger number of Educational institutions, coordination among them all was a much needed necessity. Leadership Training Service (LTS), preparing Text books, publications, etc. were the focus.
3. Training Services: For Staff and students continuous Professional Development (CPD) for staff were organized by JEA.
4. Research Services: “Religiosity and Values in School students” was a research undertaken by the JEA in 1984. (there are several other researches done by the JEA)
5. Collaboration with Other Jesuit Apostolates.
6. Collaboration with Non-Jesuit Institutions.
7. Assessment of Jesuit School.
8. Studying the National Education Policies.
9. Helping to formulate the Catholic Education Policy for India in 2007.
10. Made several Interventions on the National Education Policy  (2016-20)

Main outcomes

• Jesuit Education stood for Social Justice. 
• Staff Formation is a top priority of JEA
• Training in Leadership and Management at the National and Regional Level.
• Educational Research on preferential option for the poor and an education for social justice etc. helped us to focus on the thrust areas of the Society. Greater network and collaboration within and outside is achieved.

Identity

 Vision

Today, our mission is to educate men and women for others, leaders in service, in the multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-linguistic context of South Asia . The Jesuit school will help students to develop the qualities of mind and heart that will enable them, in whatever station they assume in life, to work with others for the good of all in the service of the Kingdom of God. We stress on making our students persons of Conscience, Competence, Compassion, and Commitment in and through our education.

Mission

We are convinced of and committed to

Make discernment our way of life at the individual, community and institutional levels to bring in the needed innovations to make our institutions/ministry relevant;

Promote and nurture active lay and religious collaboration in and through our ministry.

Collaborate and network with people of goodwill, civil society and other organizations that share our vision/mission and values and take up unitedly affirmative actions to ensure India’s secular, democratic traditions, constitutional values and pluralism through non-violent, compassionate and inclusive approach and thus promote reconciliation, peace, justice and harmony.

Actively promote academic and human excellence leading to critical thinking, spiritual depth and a change of mindset that embraces the entire cosmos as our one common heritage and home and the humanity transcending all the narrow barriers and biases

Values

Education was and is one of the major apostolate of the Society of Jesus in South Asia. We have multi-religious-, multi- ethnic, multi- cultural, and multi-linguistic context in South Asia. It was imperative for us to unite all our schools spread out across South Asia to be brought under one umbrella organization for better interaction and governance, as per the policies and programmes of the Global Society. Thus we formed JEASA to bring all our schools for better coordination, guidance and policy implementation. Networking among the 19 Provinces and 2 Regions gives a lot of positive impact and a Jesuit stamp on all. Jesuit Educational Association (JEA)

Education was and is one of the major apostolate of the Society of Jesus in South Asia. We have multi-religious-, multi- ethnic, multi- cultural, and multi-linguistic context in South Asia. It was imperative for us to unite all our schools spread out across South Asia to be brought under one umbrella organization for better interaction and governance, as per the policies and programmes of the Global Society. Thus we formed JEASA to bring all our schools for better coordination, guidance and policy implementation. Networking among the 19 Provinces and 2 Regions gives a lot of positive impact and a Jesuit stamp on all. Jesuit Educational Association (JEA)

Statistics

Schools: 378

Students: 4,00000

Jesuits: 750

Other faculty: 10,250

Governance

Provinces

• SA
• Provinces 19
• Regions 02

Leaders

Functions

• To Coordinate the Network of schools in the South Asian Jesuit schools
• Network with the Provinces
• Network with the 4 Zones
• Work with the ICAJE
• Make sure the Policies and Programme of the schools are in tune with the mandate of the Society.
• Make familiar all our institutions of the latest Documents and directions of the SJ
• Organize Conference level Seminars, Webinars, and Training programmes.
• Network with Bishop Conferences, and other Secular, educational organizations at the National level.

Government and Structure

• Conference President
• Secretary, JEA-SA
• And all the Coordinators of the Provinces (Delegates called Province Coordinators for Education (PCE))

Strategy

Strategic Plan

The global scenario where market oriented economy and the resultant consumerist culture being actively promoted and the narrow individualism being asserted.

The Indian context of the assertion and promotion of a toxic mix of a fundamentalist and neo-liberal corporate agenda that undermines India’s secular, democratic traditions and constitutional values and similar manifestations in other parts of South Asia.

Education being commercialized, communalized and corporatized.

The present educational system and scenario reinforcing divisions, prejudices, exclusions and the existing inequalities undermining the harmony in our interconnectedness and interdependence.

Areas of Work

• Training of Young Jesuits in Ignatian Education
• Training of Teachers in IPP
• Training of Teachers on Our Living Tradition, Ecology, Global Citizenship, UAPs and CAPs

Main Programs / Projects

• School Assessment Programme
• Teacher Empowerment Programme
• Ecology Mission
• HR and Constitution
• National Education Policy 2020

Future

Challenges

• Governmental restrictions
• Lack of Resources
• Lack of Jesuit Personnel