Shri E. Chandrasekharan, Hon’ble Minister for Revenue and Housing,
Shri C.K. Hareendran, Member of Legislative Assembly,
Shri N. Vijayakumar, President, Paramu Pillai Memorial Educational Society,
Smt. L. Usha, Headmistress, Paramu Pillai Memorial Educational Society,
Shri Adil Succena, Treasurer, Paramu Pillai Memorial Educational Society,
Dr. N. Jothish Mathi, Manager, Paramu Pillai Memorial Educational Society,
Priyappetta Adhyapakare, Vidyarthikale,
Maadhyama Suhruthukkale,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,
Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram.
I am very happy to address you all as we celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the Paramu Pillai Memorial High School at Karakonam, which is known to be the first Government aided school in this region.
Let me at the outset, compliment the Paramu Pillai Memorial Trust for organizing this function and for installing the statue of the Late E Paramu Pillai the founder of this school, and one of the first graduates in the erstwhile State of Travancore.
The statue is certainly a fitting memorial to this great man, but we also have another reason to remember him and his services now. All of us would recall the havoc caused by the recent floods and how we all struggled to help the victims. It was during the recent floods that our present generation was reminded of a similar flood which caused extensive damage in 1924. I am informed that the Late Paramu Pillai was one of those who personally supervised the relief operations in Alapuzha district during the flood of 1924, for which he was awarded a Gold Medal and a citation by the Government of Travancore. It is therefore, not surprising that a man of such genuine concern for the people, had established an English Middle School in Karakonam in 1943.
I understand that, this one classroom teaching unit, which started with the vision of teaching and grooming children in English and other subjects, was a great boon to the people who came from low income peasant families. It was in 1967, after his demise that the school was named renamed by his son Shri Raman Nair. I have also been told that the Golden Jubilee of this school was graced by former Governor of Kerala, the Late P. Rachaiah.
Educational institutions, everywhere in the world, are known to change the socio-cultural profile of an entire locality. The Paramu Pillai Memorial High School has also changed this locality by moulding the children of this and neighboring villages into responsible citizens capable of contributing to the welfare of society. I am told that the first student of this school became a District Judge and the former students include Members of Parliament, poets, doctors, Engineers, civil servants etc.
While we celebrate the Platinum jubilee of this school, a few words about the aims of education would never be out of place. Education in our schools should involve a continuous process of learning and unlearning, in harmony with the changing trends and tenets. What we learn in our childhood, especially in our schools, will certainly have a profound bearing on the formation of our potential and personality. The intellectual growth of a child depends on how the school and its teachers train him or her. Therefore, every school and teacher has a responsibility to impart the right knowledge and the right values to our children.
When a teacher educates a child or when a school grooms a child, it is the future of a nation that is being shaped. The standard of education tells upon the progress of an individual as well as the country, since it is the individuals who make a nation. Along with ensuring that the child develops a strong foundation of knowledge in each subject, we have to give special attention to the cultivation of a sense of social responsibility in him.
Through education, Schools must empower children to face the challenges of the future. We must help them to develop the courage and the drive to break barriers and to explore new areas of knowledge. Moreover, the children must be trained to use their knowledge for the good of the society. I feel every school should train its students to ask themselves what they could give back to society. I also feel that equipping them with a sense of their duties as citizens should be a priority to each school.
I have been informed that the efforts of Shri. N. Vijayakumar, the present Chairman, have resulted in this school getting up-to-date facilities like a good library, Smart classrooms, Computer lab etc. His experience in managing institutions of higher education would certainly help this school to take its students into the knowledge society. It is commendable that the colleges managed by him have won recognition for excellent performance.
Living in a knowledge society, we certainly must make maximum use of the technical facilities, but we must also ensure that our children acquire the 21st century skills required to succeed in today's competition. In fact, our future depends on our ability to master these skills so as to improve our employability in future. We should also equip our children to apply their knowledge in day to day life. What every school does, and should do, is to instill the spirit of inquiry in the minds of students, channelizing their energy in pursuit of excellence.
I am happy to note that the management, faculty and the student community of the Paramu Pillai Memorial High Schoolare on the right path in the process of assimilation and dissemination of knowledge. I am certain that the progress made by this school in the last 75 years was due to the dedicated service of many teachers, past and present. I take this opportunity to call to mind their selfless services and to request the present teachers to carry on their good work.
I once again convey my best wishes to the management, teachers and students of this school and wish them all the best. I also compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
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