September 11, 1978 was a epoch making day in the educational history of India as it witnessed the beginning of the incredible journey of St. Joseph’s School, Shaktinagar, emerging as ‘numero uno’ in imparting quality education to the students of its locality. Over the last forty years the school has been the cynosure of all due to the excellence it has achieved. It has been acting as a catalyst in bringing about significant positive changes in the lives of the students who have entered through its portal s and alos to the society at large. Within a short time after its inception the school was able to carve out niche for itself.

When Singralui Super Thermal Power Station (SSTPS), the flagship project of NTPC was set up at Shaktinagar, a very remote area of UP, the officials were very much concerned about the education of the children of NTPC employees. Highly impressed by the track record of The Diocese of Allahabad Education Society of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allahabad, the NTPC management invited the then Bishop, Rt. Rev Baptist Mudartha to explore the possibility of jointly opening a school at Shaktinagar. He was accompanied by Rev Fr Eric Pinto and Rev Fr John C D’Souza for the deliberation. The result of the discussion was an agreement between the two parties to open and run a school to cater to the educational needs of the wards of NTPC employees, vesting the managerial powers on the RC Diocese of Allahabad. That was the beginning of St. Joseph’s school, the pioneer educational institution of NTPC, a Maharanta Company, which is India’s largest power utility.

Rev. Fr. John C D’Souza was appointed as the first principal of the school having a total intake of just 25 students in the first year in Jwalamuki . The first teacher of the school was Ms Elizabeth Cutinha and to help in running the school, the first batch of Rev Sisters of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart Congregation joined the institution the following year. Since then the sisters have been extending their valuable service to the school. in the year 1979, classes UKG, 1 and 2 were started and in the subsequent years more number of higher classes had to be opened due to the increasing demand. The school had to fulfill its social responsibility. Hence children from outside NTPC were also given admission and the number began to swell.

The school got its secondary level affiliation from CBSE, New Delhi in the year 1984 and the first batch of class 10 students appeared for the Board Examination the following year. The approval to start senior secondary classes for science stream was obtained in 1990 and the first batch of class 12 students appeared for the board examination in 1992. The stupendous performance of the first batch of classes 10 and 12, in the year 1985 and 1992 respectively and the result of subsequent batches to date speaks volumes about the school. The school has been the CBSE Board examination centre since 1994. It was also chosen as a Board Paper Evaluation Centre.

From a merge number of 25 students the school now has more than 2400 students. This tremendous increase in the number of students speaks for itself. The credit for the mammoth progress and the popularity of the school can be attributed to the tireless and dedicated efforts and the missionary zeal of all the Principals over the last 40 years. The school has been able to scale heights of glory due to the

service rendered by the committed, carrying and passionate staff members, teaching and non-teaching and support staff since the commencement of the school. NTPC management has been a pillar of support for the school. The infrastructural development and the maintenance of the school have been done timely and prompt help has been extended by NTPC. The higher officials of SSTPS leave no stone unturned for the development of the school. It has flowered and flourished due to the support and assistance given by NTPC and its full faith in the school management is revealed from the fact that the agreement with the Diocese of Allahabad was renewed in the year 2009 and the extended for a period of 30 more years.

St. Joseph’s School Shaktinagar, has so many milestones in its history. To name a few, the school bagged the NTPC Regional Best school Award six consecutive years from 2005 till 2012 and again in 2018. The culmination was the year 2012 when the school got the coveted NTPC National Best School Award. It has also received The International Quality Circle Award.

Mrs. Latha John, PGT Maths, was conferred with the Best Teacher Award by the then HRD Minister Mrs. Smriti Irani in 2017

The school provides ample opportunities to the students to take part in the co-curricular activities and they prove their mettle by winning medals at the zonal, culture, regional and national level competitions organized by the state and CBSE.

The real success of an educational institution is measured by the successful life of its alumni. We can proudly say that the strong and the solid foundation laid down by the school in the form of quality education has helped most of the students to pursue their career in their chosen fields to lead a happy and fulfilling live. Josephites are global citizens venturing into different fields across the globe. They serve the society as administrators, managers, scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, defense personnel, teachers, etc..