*for document in Malayalam see below.
School is a lighthouse for students who are eager to reach the shore of knowledge. In this regard St. Joseph’s UP School Kallody is that light house which gave and still gives its vibrant rays of knowledge to thousands of students who forever remain grateful to their first school.
This school shares its
history with the place and people of Kallody. Most of the people who
resided at Kallody during the early 1900's were Christian immigrants from Travancore and Cochin
regions. However the school was also intended for all people who belonged to
different religions and castes. Mr. Puthiyaveettil Kunjiraman Nair is the
person behind the establishment of St. Joseph’s UP School Kallody. He also began nearby schools like A.N.M.U.P School, Ellumandam and three other schools. He
was a visionary who had deep commitment in social and cultural matters. He felt a need to
establish a school for the educational needs of the increasing migrant
community as well as for other people. At Kallody, near the road to
Mananthavady with a 60*15 ½ feet size a thatched shed was set up on 1-6-1948
with 75 students and a single teacher. Initially the school was named as
Edachana Aided Elementary School, Kallody with only I, II and III standards.
First teacher of the school was B. Sooppy Master and the first student enrolled
in the school register was N. Purushothaman. Edachana is a place where the
trumpets of the army of the valiant ruler Pazhassi Raja still resonate. As the
place was under the administration of the King’s chief Coongan, the place came to
be known as Edachana Desam. Coongan’s ancestral house Meethileveedu is close to
the place and the temple he and his fellow men used to worship in, can be still
seen.
Sooner the headmaster and first teacher Barikkal Sooppy was followed by other
teachers who came from nearby districts like Malappuram and Palakkad. Teachers
who taught during the early days of the school were P. Sankaran Nair, P.K
Venkiteswara Iyer, M.T Thomas, J Joseph, P.R Balakrishna Iyer, V Lakshimikkutty,
P R Chathu Nair et al. During those days it was the manager who gave wages to
teachers. School records testify that nearly 40 Rs were paid in this respect.
Salary acquittance of more than half a century is still kept in the school. After
some years IVth standard was introduced. The former construction with
thatched roof gave way for a new construction with tiled roof. By the third year of
establishment the number of students got increased to 173. By 1951-52 migrant
population got increased significantly.
The church, which had already been established (St. George Forane Church, Kallody) felt a need to unify the people with creative interventions in the field of education. As a result, with the guidance of Vicar Fr. Thomas Kalam S.J, a group of people approached manager P Kunjiraman and bought the school and its property for Rs 5250. Thenceforth the school came to be known as St. Joseph’s Elementary School, Kallody with Fr. Thomas Kalam S.J as the new manager. It was on 29th April 1952. By then the school had 220 students and 6 teachers.
The church, which had already been established (St. George Forane Church, Kallody) felt a need to unify the people with creative interventions in the field of education. As a result, with the guidance of Vicar Fr. Thomas Kalam S.J, a group of people approached manager P Kunjiraman and bought the school and its property for Rs 5250. Thenceforth the school came to be known as St. Joseph’s Elementary School, Kallody with Fr. Thomas Kalam S.J as the new manager. It was on 29th April 1952. By then the school had 220 students and 6 teachers.
The school and the Church’s intervention are the prime factors behind the development of
the place Kallody. The progress this place achieved through the school is hard
to measure. By 1952 the number of students got increased to 300. Higher education which could only be availed at Mananthavady, raised the
demand to start 6th std at Kallody itself. Because of the
strenuous efforts of the authorities, the government ordered to start 6th std at
Kallody during that year itself. By now the number of divisions had raised to
10. After Mr. Barikkal Sooppy's retirement from service, M.P Kochurosa from Trichur
was appointed as the headmistress of this institution. All through the years the
school’s level of education got increased significantly.
The demand for higher education was once again favorably received by the
government that it granted permission to start VIIIth std in 1955. It was
almost a miracle that during that year’s ESLC Exam the school had a result with
flying colors: 97% pass. By 1961, 5 more batches came out completing VIIIth std
successively. When the first democratically elected government led by the Communist Party came to power on 1st November
1956, names of elementary schools’ were changed to UP schools. Hence St.
Joseph’s Elementary School was started to be called St. Joseph’s UP School
Kallody.
As the status of the school
changed so was the number of students. Besides, many teachers tried to enroll
as many students as possible in the school by visiting houses of all people. By
1954 a new building and a comparably good library was set up. Among the
priests who helped to achieve these include Fr. Sebastian Ilamthuruthiyil, Fr.
Sosiemuse CMI, Fr Tishian CMI et al. Fr. Luckose Poondikkulam helped to raise
the physical standards of the institution with a good playground and a beautiful garden.
By 1967 the school came under the administration of the
corporate system (CEADoM) of the Catholic Dioceses. During the initial periods, the
school was under the administration of Diocese of Tellicherry before it came to the
administration of the Diocese of Mananthavady. Fr. Joseph Memana’s arrival
during 1975 boosted the stature of the school for the coming years. During the
80's and 90's many efficient teachers went through the school passing the light
of knowledge to thousands. A major event during the 2000's was the beginning of a
single batch with English as the medium of instruction. This was started in 2002-03 academic
year onward.
Presently, the school has good infrastructure facilities helping it to incorporate latest and innovative technology in pedagogy. In the recent past, Head Master Mr. NV George received National Award to Teachers from the hands of the honorable president of India. The school now excels in both curricular and non-curricular activities, bagging prizes in different state and district level competitions like it always did.
Reference: A publication by the school.
Presently, the school has good infrastructure facilities helping it to incorporate latest and innovative technology in pedagogy. In the recent past, Head Master Mr. NV George received National Award to Teachers from the hands of the honorable president of India. The school now excels in both curricular and non-curricular activities, bagging prizes in different state and district level competitions like it always did.
Reference: A publication by the school.
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