THE INTRODUCTION OF WESTERN EDUCATION ACTED AS A CHANGING FACTOR OF KERALA SOCIETY. THE ROLE OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES INCLUDING CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT MISSIONARIES PROVIDED LOT OF CONTRIBUTION TO THE EDUCATION OF KERALA.

1. BY
Dr. Arun Thomas M
Assistant Professor
Department of History,
Payyanur College, Payyanur
arunthoma73@gmail.com
WESTERN
EDUCATION
(in Kerala)

2.  Kerala tops the list of
Indian states in the
matter of literacy and
education.
The history of
education in Kerala
goes back to very
ancient times.
The introduction of
western education
acted as a catalytic
agent.

4. • The introduction of Western education marks a
great epoch in the history of education in Kerala.
• The credit for taking the first tangible step
towards the introduction of western education
goes to the Christian Missionaries.
• The Catholic Missionaries who first landed in
Kerala were more interested in the propagation of
their faith.
• But, the Protestant missionaries who followed
them took keen interest in the spread of western
education.

6. Services of the Portuguese and the Dutch
• The Portuguese and the Dutch made some
contributions to the cause of education and learning in
Kerala.
• In the 16th century, the Jesuit missionaries seemed to
have established a college at Quilon to promote the
study Christian theology and learning.
• The Portuguese and the Syrian children’s were
admitted in this institution.
• In 1545, a Franciscan priest, father Vincent, founded a
college at Cranganore for the education of Syrian
youths in Latin rites and language.
• The youths were initiated into European customs and
manners. But the Syrian Priests refused to such
students in their churches.
• Thus the attempt of the Franciscans failed.

7. • The Portuguese, then deputed the Jesuits to win over
the Syrian students. So the Jesuits established
another college at Vaipinkotta in 1587.
• The Portuguese also founded educational institutions
in Kochi and Angamaly.
• In the 17th century, Varapuzha became the seat of a
seminary founded by Carmelities.
• Thus the Portuguese made some changes in the
system of education in Kerala.
• The Dutch who came after the Portuguese were not
interested about starting seminary and colleges, but
they allowed the continuance of Portuguese
educational institutions.
• The work initiated by Portuguese and the Dutch
touched only a small section of the population.

8. Protestant Missionaries- TRAVANCORE
• In Travancore and Cochin several protestant Missionaries started
educational activities at the beginning of 19th century under the
patronage of local Rulers.
• The Prussian missionary WT Ringletaube established several
schools in Trivandrum were free education was given to all poor
children irrespective of caste or creed.
• On the recommendation of Resident Col. Munro, the Travancore
government encouraged his educational activities by making free
gift of lands for schools.
• But the most important name connected with the educational
work of protestant missionaries was that of Rev. Mead.
• He devoted his whole energy to educational work and established
several schools in South Travancore.
• The successful working of the London Mission Schools attract the
attention of Swathi Thirunal Maharaja.
• After that he invited Mr J Robertss, the Head master of Nagarcovil
English seminary to open the first English school at Trivandrum in
1834.
• In 1866 this schools upgraded to the status of college.

9. • The Church missionary society was active in the
educational field at Kottayam.
• At first they cooperated with the Syrian Church and set
up a college (seminary) for the training of priests and
ministers.
• In 1821 the CMS missionaries set up a Grammar
School at Kottayam.
• They also started schools for girls at
Alleppey, Kottayam, and Cochin.
• They helped Syrian church to start parish primary
schools.
• Numerous primary schools and a few English schools
were also set up by the CMS in the different parts of
Central Travancore.

10. CMS College Kottayam was founded by the Church Missionary Society ,
in 1815, the first college in Kerala.
CMS College was patronised by Col. John Munro, the Resident,
and Dewan of Travancore.

11. • They also started industrial and teachers training
schools.
• The CMS School had proper organisation, definite
curriculum and proper methods of teaching.
• CMS missionaries who did pioneering work in
Travancore Norton, Bailey, Baker, Fenn and Peet
deserve special mention.
• The educational activities of the protestant
missionaries gave inspiration to other Christian
Churches to establish schools in the different
parts of Kerala.

12. Cochin
• Most of the Cochin rajas were great Scholars and the patrons of
learning.
• Under them Thrippunithara became the great centre of
education.
• Col Munro, who established vernacular schools in in the rural
areas of Cochin.
• The name of Rev. J. Dawson and Mr A.F. Sealy are associated
with the progress of education in Cochin in the earlier stages.
• Dawson, the CMS Missionary established two English
elementary schools, one at Cochin and another at Cranganore in
1818.
• The schools received Royal patronage and government grant.
• In 1826, Samuel Ridsdale another CMS missionary came to
Cochin and established 6 schools for boys and 4 schools for girls.
• It was in 1836 that CMS started an English school in Trichur
which become the high school in 1889

13. General John Munro (June 1778 – 25 January 1858) of the
H.E.I.C.S was a Scottish soldier and administrator who
served as Resident and Diwan of the States of
Travancore

14. • The Missionaries started a network of primary schools in the
different parts of Cochin.
• A English schools was established at Ernakulam in 1845.
• By 1875 due to the efforts of AF Sealy, it was raised to the status of
a second grade college and affiliated to the university of Madras.
• Sealy was appointed the first director of public instruction in
Kochi.
• In 1889, rules were framed for giving grants in aid to private
school.
• As a result many private schools set up in different parts of Cochin.
• In 1890, a great impetus was given to the education of masses by
the organization of a department of vernacular instruction in
Kochi.
• A few years later the vernacular and English departments were
integrated and placed under the control of Superintendent of
education.
• Thus the active efforts of the state as well as the private agencies
helped the spread of Western education in the Cochin state.

15. Malabar
• The credit for having laid the foundation of
western education in the Malabar goes to the
Basel German Evangelical Mission.
• The Basel Mission at first opened a primary school
at Kallayi in 1848.
• Then it was shifted to Calicut and raised to a high
school that developed into the present Malabar
Christian College in 1907.
• During the first world war, the Basel Mission gave
up their educational activities in Malabar.
• But after the war they received their educational
works in Malabar.

16. BASEL MISSION SCHOOL, TELLICHERRY

20. • The Brennan College at Dharmadam owes its
inception to Mr. Brennen, master attendant at
Tellicherry who died in 1859 leaving Rs. 12000 for the
foundation of a free school ‘wherein persons of all
creeds and denominations might receive a sound
English education.
• The name of Mr. Gundert deserves special mention in
connection with he work of Basel Mission in Malabar.
• The Basel mission set up many number of primary
schools and several high schools in Malabar.
• The establishment of Victoria College at Palaghat in
1866 increased the facilities for higher education in
the Malabar area.

21. • The Zamorin’s College (now
Guruvayoorappan College) was started at
Calicut as a school in 1877 for young
princes, developed into a famous college.
• In the course of time , the District Boards of
Malabar started many schools in their
respective territories.
• Thus the work of Christian Missionaries led
to the spread of Western education in
Malabar.

24. GUNDERT

25. Impact of western education
• The work of Christian Missionaries and the spread
of Western education helped to bring about a
radical changes social change.
• The western education had its impact on the social
economic , religious, political and cultural life of
Kerala.
• As a powerful instrument of social change,
education helped in reducing the rigidity of cast
system and other evils.
• Owing to the education and the subsequent social
changes untouchability and unapporchability began
to vanish from the land.

26. • The lower classes were liberated from the slavery
and they also got freedom of dress.
• The spread of education caused the decline of joint
family system and ‘marumakkathayam’.
• The status of women rose in society and early
marriages became unpopular.
• The spread of English, western education and
western culture led to the growth of National
Movement in Kerala.
• After the formation of Kerala state in 1956, the
Govt. has taken the step to improve our education
system.

27. THANK YOU
BY
THANK YOU
By
Dr Arun Thomas M