India: Diocese launches academy to train Christian students for government examinations

The Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore in southern India launched the Archdiocesan Academy for Competitive Examinations (A2CE) on February 19 to prepare Christian students for state and central government competitive examinations.

Several Catholic dioceses in state of Tamil Nadu have established similar academies to encourage students to pursue careers in the civil services. In line with these efforts, Fr. Devasagayaraj M. Zackarias, Episcopal Vicar for Priests in the archdiocese and director of A2CE, initiated the academy. The programme aims to guide students from Grade VI onwards, with a long-term focus on civil service careers.

Schools under the archdiocese will form part of the academy network. Monthly examinations will be conducted to assess progress, and students who secure high grades will receive certificates of recognition.

The academy was inaugurated alongside the Annual Day of its Foundation Course. The event was presided over by Archbishop Francis Kalist of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, who encouraged students to prepare systematically and approach competitive examinations with confidence.

The chief guest was A. John Louis, IAS, Managing Director of Aavin, Tamil Nadu’s state-run dairy cooperative. Sharing his experience of the Civil Services Examination, he spoke about the demands of preparation and perseverance. He is an alumnus of St. Ann’s Higher Secondary School, an institution administered by the archdiocese.

Fr. Jose Robinson, Director of Nanjil Career Academy of the Kuzhithurai Diocese, south Tamil Nadu, attended as the guest of honour. The A2CE initiative was developed with his guidance and technical support. Fr. Thisai Gerry, Spiritual Director of YMCA Chennai, also participated in the programme.

The Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu has a long record of involvement in education, healthcare and social welfare. Church-run institutions have played a significant role in expanding access to schooling, particularly for economically disadvantaged communities.

According to the 2011 Census of India, Christians account for nearly 6 percent of Tamil Nadu’s population, or about 4.4 million people. While official data on competitive examinations do not provide religion-specific statistics, Christian students participate in state and national-level recruitment examinations each year.

Archdiocesan officials said the academy is intended to strengthen academic preparation and expand access to structured coaching for government service examinations.

The initiative reflects a broader effort to equip students with analytical skills, disciplined study habits and sustained academic focus in an increasingly competitive environment.