LSN GIRLS’ HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, OTTAPALAM (2000)

Ottapalam, with its rich heritage, had very little to be proud of regarding educational facilities. Just a hamlet situated between the commercial centres of Trichur and Palakkad, it was the seat of Nair aristocrats, who owned almost all the land in the village, while the rest of the population had a hand-to-mouth existence. The aristocrats were rich enough to afford education for their children in the town or in cities outside, but the rest of the population remained mostly illiterate for want of adequate facilities. Thus, there was a crying need to educate women. The idea of a girls’ school was the brainchild of Sir C. Sankaran Nair, who thought of perpetuating the memory of his wife by establishing a school after her demise. Thus was born Lady Sankaran Nair High School. However, the administration proved difficult for them.

The urge to illumine society with the light of education and love for the Lord propelled the convent authorities, namely Mother Josephine and Mother Leonora, to accept the offer and go ahead with the uphill task. The only condition attached to the agreement for the transfer of the school was that it should never be renamed; hence, the school came to be known as Lady Sankaran Nair Convent School. Here was a ‘Mission’ where the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel had to reach, and it was up to the Apostolic Carmel to hearken to the message, “The harvest is ready.”

In September 2000, the school was upgraded into a Higher Secondary School with Science and Commerce streams. A new building for the Plus Two section was constructed and blessed in 2001. The second floor was completed the following year. To fulfill the conditions laid down by NCTE, an auditorium was put up over the Plus Two block and was blessed on 23 March 2002. The first enrollment was with 141 students. The institution gratefully remembers Sr. M. Elizabeth, the first principal, and Srs. Snehalatha, Lilly Jose, Smt. Nirmala M, and Sr. Sudeera, who steered the institution with efficiency and care.

At present, the Plus Two section has fifteen teaching and three non-teaching staff members and 363 students. The institution has to its credit the highest pass percentage in the District for the Higher Secondary Examination. It was awarded for integrating the classroom learning activities with social work. Regular catechism and moral science learning, as well as activities for faith formation, are special features for the section. The School undertakes many social projects under the palliative care unit for children and women.