Kanyakumari as the Pioneer in Education

In the field of education an approved system of education with importance to English, Science and Arithmetic was introduced.  Education was open to students of all caste, creed and religion. Two of the early Dewans [Chief Ministers] of the former Travancore state were students of the schools. Even the State Government emulated the Christian Missionaries and started schools with the help of missionaries. One of the Missionaries started the first English Medium Government School at Trivandrum which later on led to the creation of the University College at Trivandrum. Several schools in the State level by Government were also started with the help of the Missionaries. Schools led to further development in Education.

Vision of the first Missionary : Rev. Ringletaube started an English medium school at Mylaudy in 1809. This was the first English school in the state of Travancore. Students were taught scripture, English, Tamil and Sanskrit. Rev. Charles Mead continued this effort after his arrival in 1818 and shifted the school at Mylaudy to Nagercoil. Rev. Charles believed that the English school at Nagercoil could one day become a college, which materialized in 1893. During his tenure numerous schools and Churches were established and by 1827 there were forty four schools in Travancore. Mrs. Johanna, wife of Rev. Charles Mead, was instrumental in starting various English medium girls’ schools with the first one at Nagercoil.

The turn of the twentieth century did not arguer well for our mission schools. The Travancore Education Code curbed the independent functioning of our institutions and remained an obstacle to further growth and their very existence. Experienced teachers who made sacrifices for the establishment of schools were dubbed unqualified and many of them were removed from service. Scripture was not allowed to be taught in schools. Church buildings were prohibited from being used as schools. There was a necessity to construct separate school buildings and 157 school buildings were constructed. In places where buildings could not be constructed the schools were closed and therefore 57 schools had to be closed. The introduction of compulsory education scheme in 1946-47 lead to the surrender of almost all schools to the government – a step in retrograde which marred the progress of Christian presence in the field of education.

Technical Education : The vision of our missionaries was fulfilled with the establishment of an Industrial Training Institute in Nagercoil, a Polytechnic College in Nagercoil and finally an Institute of Technology in Thovalai [the first Engineering College of the entire C.S.I.]. We have started the work of Maharasan Vethamonikam Polytechnic and Sinclair Memorial Enginering College at Marthandam.

College Education: After the formation of the Kanyakumari Diocese in 1959 importance began to be given for college education and establishment of colleges. The first school at Nagercoil was converted into a co-education college, Scott Christian College, and later shifted to its present venue in 1971. It became an autonomous institution in 2005 and is now a deemed university. With the completion of shifting of Scott Christian College to the prevailing new campus of about 45 acres the old campus fell vacant and subsequently in 1973 the Women’s Christian College was established in old campus. The process of growth and the resultant passing of power to the Indians culminated in the starting of a new Arts and Science College in Marthandam in 1964. It became a first grade degree college in the very next year and at present it is a post graduate college with a number of courses even offering research programme. The list of Colleges, Institutes, Para-medical Schools and College are listed below ;

C.S.I. Matriculation Higher Secondary School : Started in 1980 in the Building where the first Bishop of Diocese the late Rt. Rev. I. R. H. Gnanadason used to live. The matriculation school with higher secondary section under the self financing scheme has become an institute of pride to the Kanyakumari Diocese.

SCOTT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, NAGERCOIL
Web : www.scottchristian.org

NESAMONY MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, MARTHANDAM
Web : www.nmcc.ac.in

WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, NAGERCOIL
Web : www.wccngl.com

C.S.I. TEACHER’S TRAINING INSTITUTE, IRENEPURAM
Web: www.csivvtti.org

CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, MARTHANDAM
Web : www.christiancollegeofeducation.edu.in

C.S.I.COLLEGE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Web : www.ccpe.co.in

MODERATOR GNANADASON POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, NAGERCOIL
Web :

C. S. I. MOTOR MECHANIC TRAINING CENTRE, NAGERCOIL

C.S.I.I.T.I. KALIAKKAVILAI
Web :

C. S. I. INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, THOVALAI
Web : www.csiit.ac.in

C.S.I. SCHOOL OF NURSING, NEYYOOR

C.S.I. SCHOOL OF NURSING, MARTHANDAM

C.S.I. CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF NURSING, NEYYOOR
Web : www.ccnneyyoor.org

C.S.I. CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF NURSING, Marthandam

C.S.I. CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF PHYSIOTHERAPHY, COLACHEL
Web :

VETHAMONICKAM MEMORIAL CSI POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, VIRICODE, MARTHANDAM
Web : www.vm-csi-polytechnic.org

MARY FLETCHER CSI COLLEGE OF NURSING, NAGERCOIL