Carmel Higher Secondary School

Aloysious Benzigar, O.C.D, Roman Catholic Bishop of Quilon, undertook to open an English School together with boarding quarters for the use of Catholics of the southern and Tamil-speaking portion of the Diocese. Benziger was a Swiss-born Carmelite of the Belgian province who spent 1905 to 1931 at Carmel Hill, Trivandrum. He determined in 1919 to refound a Carmelite community in Goa during the third centenary of their martyrdom, in 1938.[1]

The Carmelites constructed a building 300 ft. long at Ramanputur in the vicinity of Nagercoil. There Carmel Higher Secondary School was established in 1922 as a middle school, English medium. The building was solemnly blessed by Fr. Lucas, O.C.D., the Prior General of the Carmelites. It began with the preparatory class and first form under the management of Bernard Gonsalvez, and with Antony Pereira, BA, as headmaster. In 1925 these were succeeded by Paul and Martin Fernandez. By then it was a full Middle School with 120 students and 6 teachers, with 40 boarders.

After the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kottar was formed, the first Bishop of Kottar Lawrence Pereira enlarged it to the status of high school, in 1936. According to the regulations of the Directorate of School Education, the school was given permanent recognition as per the regulation No 1952/Z117 of 04-12-1934.[2]

From 1936 to 1946 the Brothers of Charity from England managed the school. From 1947 to 1950 the Salesians of Don Bosco took over but returned it to the Diocese of Kottar in 1950. From June 1959 Jesuits from Madurai province took charge and added the Higher Secondary School division. From June 1986 to June 1994 it reverted to the Salesians of Don Bosco but the Jesuits from Madurai Province returned in July 1994 and have managed it since.[3]

Today there is a statue of Jesus Christ in the entrance of the school, where the inauguration of the school was held. There was once a building, demolished to construct Machado Lab in 2000, situated in front of today’s canteen. It was the first ever building of Carmel Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil.

Poor students are assisted by the waiving of school fees, a morning meal scheme, and works of charity in collaboration with the Carmel Alumni Association.

Activities and organizations include National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme, Scouts, Junior Red Cross, GSP (Government Services Project), Carmel Science club and LASAC. Videos provide a look at the campus and activities.[4]