St Joseph's College, Curepipe
St. Joseph’s College in Curepipe, Mauritius, is a publicly funded Roman Catholic all-boys secondary school.
History
Founded in 1877 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the administration was transferred to the Diocese of Port-Louis in 1985. The college has been providing free education since 1977. The school forms part of the Elite colleges in Mauritius. The college obtained its first laureate in the year 1947 named Boulle Bernard and his brother Boulle Michel succeeded him in 1948. The Rector Mr Serge Ng TaT Chung, former student and teacher at the college received the insignia of Member of the Order of the Star and the Key of the Indian Ocean for his contribution in the sector of education.In the early 1930s, the wooden buildings were replaced by reinforced concrete ones. Physics and Chemistry labs were built in 1939, a gymnasium in 1970, and five classrooms and an amphitheatre in 1994. A pre-vocational department was created in 2001. The college enrolls only students at form 1 level who scored 22 units or more.
The motto Ad Altiora Cum Christo and the badge were created in 1940 by Max Boulle, a former student.
During World War II, the college was requisitioned as a war hospital, although there was no actual fighting in Mauritius. During that time St. Joseph's College students had to study at the Royal College Curepipe along with their teachers.
Facts
- The college hosts its Mass on 19 March, the annual Sports day, Music day, Fancy Fair, and Debate competitions.
- During the celebration of the 120th birthday of the college in 1997 a bust of St. Joseph – sculpted by Mr. Karl Hervet – was unveiled in the school yard.
- St. Joseph's College has set up a pre-vocational department, aiming to train children who have been unable to pass the CPE exams twice.
Infrastructure
Other activities
The end of year period at St. Joseph's College features the leavers Mass followed by the Leavers Dinner and the end-of-year party, otherwise known as Prom Night. The college organises events such as the Fancy F.Chronology
1877- Opening of Saint Joseph's College
- The registration of the first pupil took place on January 15, 1877.
- The pupil lived within the compound of the school.
- The first gymnasium opened.
- Used stamps were collected and sold and the proceeds used to purchase a statue of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. A very large stone was procured from a nearby building site and installed in the middle of the interior yard.
- The college celebrated 50 years of existence. Most of the students were Catholic and very few students were of colour. Bro. Gordien in 1929 put aside ethnic considerations from their recruitment criteria.
- During the cyclone on 23 January the building was badly damaged. Therefore, a building made of re-enforced concrete was planned by a former student, Max Boullé, an architect.
→ The school chapel was inaugurated on 17 November 1933.
1939
→ The Science block – Physics and chemistry – was added as a separate building in 1939.
→ The 1939-1945 war caused difficulty to St. Joseph's College and Mauritius in general. Although there was no fighting on the island, communication, exports and imports – especially of food – suffered. The military requisitioned the building and transformed it into a hospital.
- As from 1940, the College made its contribution to the war effort. A rescue office and more than fifty beds, under the Red Cross responsibility, monopolized many rooms. In addition, two Home Guards fixed the place as their rally point and Brothers were part of those two organizations. Also, the playgrounds were used as exercise fields.
- In June 1942, the military authorities put forward their intention to transform the College into a war hospital. Arrangements were quickly made. Fortunately, it was suggested that buildings be shared with the Royal College of Curepipe. The Brothers moved to Leclézio Avenue, in Curepipe, in a house lent by one of the College's benefactors, André Robert.
- As from 1 July 1942, the new school system came into being. The Royal College had classes from eight to noon and St. Joseph's College from half past twelve to five. Parents and teachers were getting used to the half day of work. As such, the Préparatoire and Classe V ceased to exist in 1943, parents preferring their children to attend schools in which ladies were in charge. The older students worked better and had more time for personal work. The studies, in general, were not affected by the war.
- The Royal College's rector, T. B. Barnes, showed himself conciliatory: he shared his resources with the Brothers. The science teachers could use the laboratories. Paradoxically, the war brought the two institutions together.
- St. Joseph's College was in exile for four years and came back to its original premises on 28 June 1946. The college received Rs 37 500 as compensation from the military after deducting expenses for rebuilding after the cyclone of 1945.
- The motto Ad Altiora Cum Christo – Towards Heights with The Christ – as well as the badge are born. They were created by a former student, Gaëtan Boullé.
- On the month of June, St. Joseph's college changed from the Madagascar province jurisdiction and fell under the wing of Irish missionaries.
- As soon as the Scholarship of England was available to private institutions, St. Joseph's College produced laureates. The firsts were Barnard Boullé and his younger Brother Michel.
- Creation of the Old Boys Association by Gustave Rey.
- September 24: inauguration of the new gymnasium.
- The first scholarship for Economics was taken by a student at St. Joseph's College. In addition to government scholarships, there were also students who won others given by the Collège d'Agriculture, the Fondation Mauricienne, the Alliance Française, the British, French, New Zealand, Russia and India amongst others.
- Since January 1977, the government took in charge the schooling of all secondary school pupils in Mauritius and Rodrigues. Mauritius was the first country in the third world to make free education at second and third levels available to its people.
- Mr. Daniel Koenig, former laureate of the College in 1951, became the first lay Director, or Rector in 1985. When he retired, he was replaced as Rector in 1992 by Mr. Serge Ng Tat Chung, another past pupil. Mr. Daniel Koenig was recently the manager of St. Joseph's College until his decease.
- 19 Jan: Inaugural of a new block comprising five classrooms and an amphitheater.
- The college celebrated its 120th birthday in 1997. On 19 March, a bust of St. Joseph – sculpted by Mr. Karl Hervet – was unveiled in the school yard.
- Opening of the new computer room, Espace Informatique St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle.
- 19 March: St. Joseph's College's pre-vocational department was inaugurated. It trains children that have failed twice the CPE exams and gives them the opportunities they need.
- Mr. Veerapen, Assistant Rector and formerly teacher at the school retired. Mr. Karl Tat Chin was entrusted with the title of the new Assistant Rector.
- The Daniel Koenig Junior Science Laboratory started for Form 1 to Form 3 students.
- Computer Laboratory set up.
Notable alumni
- Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- late Guy Rozemont, former leader of the Mauritius Labour Party and trade unionist.
- Marc Daruty de Grandpré, architect.
- Micheal Sik Yuen, former labour party minister.
- Bernard Sik Yuen, Chief Justice
- Jim Seetaram, former labour party Minister.
- Mr Dheerendra.K.Dabee,.
- Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Stephan Toussaint.
- Honorable Attorney General, Ravi Yerrigadoo.
- Yan de Maroussem.
Image Gallery