A diocese in northwestern Bangladesh, which schools extremely poor non-Christian tribal students, is now trying to reinforce academic knowledge with values and ethics.

Some 70 grade 10-12 students attended a seminar on ethics, values and spirituality at Saint John Bosco sub-parish in Lokkhikol on Aug. 31.

Rajshahi diocese’s education commission and local the Caritas Bangladesh office organized the event, the very first of its kind for indigenous non-Christian students in the area.

“You’re the future architects of the nation. You need to listen to your conscience and control your indifference and emotions,” Father Ignatius Bindu Hembrom told them.

“Learned people with a conscious heart can make a difference for the country,” he said.

Most indigenous people in the area are very poor and many mortgage their lands to moneylenders. Poverty often means they are not sincere about learning, said Caritas education development officer Suklesh George Costa.

“Poverty often leads to unsocial activities. We provide them with an education and are trying to keep them on track through instilling values and morality,” he said.

Education commission secretary Father Sunil Daniel Rozario said it is a struggle for indigenous people to keep body and soul together.

“These poor people often can’t afford one meal a day. How can they educate their children? So, we are doing it in order to change their future,” he said.

Students said they found the seminar encouraging.

“It helped me realize that money is not everything. Values and ethics make life meaningful and beautiful,” said Sonjit Ekka, 22, an 11th grader.

“Even though I’m from a very poor family and we live in a house on another man’s land, I can make a better future when I finish my studies,”  he said.

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