Zinia Pinto
Zinia Teresa Carmen Pinto (September 7, 1929 – June 4, 2013) was a Roman Catholic nun and teacher working in Karachi, Pakistan.
Early life
She was born on September 7, 1929 in Goa, India. After finishing high school in Goa, she completed a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and then trained as a teacher.[1] She came to Karachi in 1954 and joined St Joseph's Convent School as a teacher in July 1956.[2] She taught English Language and Literature in classes 9 to 11. She left the school in December 1957 to start her religious education. She joined the Order of the Daughters of the Cross in 1958 and went to Belgium to complete her religious education.
Career
On her return she joined the University of Karachi and was awarded a master's degree in psychology. She re-joined St Joseph's School and continued to teach. She also helped in the St. Joseph's College. She became the principal of the school on 1 June 1963 and continued in this position until 1999.[1]
She also served as the chairperson of the Karachi archdiocesan Catholic Board of Education.[3] She has mostly taught Religious Studies to classes 6 and 7. Her other interests are cooking, reading, music, flowers, and people. St Joseph's was one of the first schools to have introduced computers during her tenure. In 2012 she was the Administrator of the school.[4] Pinto has also been Mother Superior of the Daughters of the Cross in Pakistan. A student donated 150 trees to be planted in the school and a special Neem tree in her name, would mark her place in the school’s history.[5] She met Pope John Paul II on 3 occasions and was present at the Mass he celebrated in Karachi on 16 February 1981.[6]
Death and legacy
She died on June 4, 2013 after being hospitalized at the Holy Family Hospital. Her funeral service took place on June 6 at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.[1]
According to former student Zubeida Mustafa, Pinto “gave strength to thousands who passed through the school`s portals and was a guide for their parents.”
She “steered the school through a period when nationalisation, denationalisation, privatisation and the commercialisation of schools ruined the structure of education in the country.”[7]