The Missionaries' Role in the Development of WesternEducation in Southern Travancore

Abstract

Western education may trace its roots back to the Christian missionaries. It was in
1818. The Nagercoil Seminary, in Kalkulam Taluk, was established by Rev. Mead. It
pioneered the provision of consistent English instruction in southern Travancore. In 1809,
Rev. Ringletaube founded what is now Scott Christian Higher Secondary School. Septimus
R. Scott, who kindly bequeathed a thousand pounds that he had inherited from his aunt, is
largely responsible for the school's rapid expansion. The position of Superintendent of
Schools was filled by Ringletaube in 1855 A.D. The government of Travancore established
eleven English district schools between 1866 and 1867. The government of the Maharajah
also sought to promote vernacular education in 1877. Every low-income area should have its
own school, as was decided. One panam per student taught was the rate of pay for the
instructors. Across all levels of Kerala's vernacular schools, Malayalam was the only
language of instruction until 1915.