Tea factory-turned first school of Munnar turns 100
In 1955, the high school section and a Tamil primary school were taken over by the Travancore–Cochin Government, paving the way for steady expansion.
In 1955, the high school section and a Tamil primary school were taken over by the Travancore–Cochin Government, paving the way for steady expansion.
In 1955, the high school section and a Tamil primary school were taken over by the Travancore–Cochin Government, paving the way for steady expansion.
Munnar: The Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, the first educational institution in Munnar, has stepped into its centenary year. Established in 1926 in an abandoned tea factory building, the school has grown into a prominent institution serving the plantation community and the local population.
The origins of the school date back to the aftermath of the Great Flood of 1924, which forced the closure of a tea factory in Old Munnar. The factory building, situated between the Muthirappuzha river and the Kochi–Munnar road, was later handed over to start a school for the children of plantation workers. John Thomas became its first headmaster.
In 1955, the high school section and a Tamil primary school were taken over by the Travancore–Cochin Government, paving the way for steady expansion. Currently, the school functions under the Kattappana educational district with classes from five to 12 in Malayalam, Tamil, and English mediums. It has 680 students, 47 staff, and also houses a Vocational Higher Secondary section and a Teacher Training Institute (TTI) with 44 trainee teachers and three faculty members.
To mark the centenary, a new building funded by the district panchayat is nearing completion and will be inaugurated during the celebrations. The year-long observance was inaugurated with a flag hoisting by MLA Adv A Raja. The celebrations began with a rally from Munnar town, flagged off by Panchayat President M Manimozhi. Monthly programmes have been planned, culminating in a grand finale in January 2026.