School History
Chundikuli Girls’ College started with nine girls in 1896 on the appeal from Mr. Alfred Hensman to Mary Carter and the Rev. James Carter, Principal of St. John’s College, for a school for his own daughters that would give the same level of education that his sons received. The early life of the school proved to be the beginnings of the break away from binding, restricting traditions and customs for girls at that time. From its inception, the purpose of the school was to improve the status of women by giving them a new lease of improved life. To give freedom through knowledge. Hence the motto, ‘FORWARD’.
The history of the school evolves over some significant milestones.
The Beginnings: 1896 – 1904. Founding of the school and the adoption of it by Church Missionary Society (CMS). The demise of Mary Carter in 1899 and the arrival of Amy Goodchild who grew the number on roll to over 100.
The Page era: 1904 – 1930. The longest serving Principal in the history of Chundikuli, Ms Sophie Page expands the school and makes significant changes with a vision to provide a well rounded education for the Chundikuli girl. House Systems are introduced. Girl Guides movement is introduced in 1921 and Chundikuli becomes the First Jaffna Company. The Tamil Literary Society is inaugurated. The girls get a school uniform for the first time. The school begins to present students for Cambridge exams. Science is introduced and Chundikuli girls begin to obtain science degrees from University College Colombo and Madras. At the same time the Trinity College of London music exams are brought into the curriculum. Kindergarten education is formalised with qualified elementary froebel certificated staff.
Dr Evangeline Mutthamma Thillayampalam obtains a doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University, New York.
The Northway era: 1931 – 1941
The school moves to its present premises. Chundikuli proudly celebrates numerous academic achievements of its students. Lily Selliah Arumugam, Chundikuli’s first MBBS graduate passes out as the first woman to gain a distinction and first class at the Ceylon Medical College. Greater emphasis is given to sports and athletics and Chundikuli ventures outside to participate in inter-school sports. Miss Edith Kelk joins the school and takes the arts to a new level. Percussion band becomes a source of great joy. Classical singing, western music, drama and theatre go to greater heights. New methods of teaching are explored for the development of students’ individuality.
The Thillayampalam era: 1941 – 1950. Described as the age of possibilities for youth the focus was on leadership, initiative and empowerment of students. Emergence of student-led school societies and clubs. A new science lab is constructed. Chundikuli adopts the new reforms of independent Sri Lanka and the momentous change brought by the language bill. Tamil, the mother tongue, becomes the medium of instruction.
The Mathai-Chelliah era: 1951 – 1983. Chundikuli survives the government take over of schools by opting to remain as an Anglican denomination private non-fee leying school. The school expands vastly by acquiring adjoining lands. A modern Chundikuli emerges by way of infrastructure and school reforms. Chundikuli celebrates the Diamond Jubilee in 1971. A new administration block is built to commemorate the diamond jubilee.
The era of Civil War: 1983 – 2008. Mrs. L. P. Jeyaweerasingam as Principal leads Chundikuli as the school faces one of her darkest hours in history. Chundikuli inaugurates the Red Cross Society, the Social Services Club, the Interact Club and the Garden Club to support the students and the community. In 1989, Chundikuli mourns the tragic killing of Dr. Rajani Thiranagama, a prominent old girl and Head of the Department of Anatomy of the University of Jaffna.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. For they will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven” – Matthew 5:10
As the war intensifies the school voluntarily offers to be a refugee camp for the community. The school becomes victim to the aerial bombings and shelling and incurs tremendous damage to infrastructure and resources. Shocked by the sudden disappearance and killing of student, Krishanthi Coomarasamy, Chundikuli appeals to the Red Cross and Amnesty International.
Selvagowri Anatharetchakan, one of Chundikuli’s favourite old girls and outstanding athletes, represents Great Britain in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and wins a Silver medal for Britain at the Commonwealth Games in 1998.
In 1996, Chundikuli being internally displaced, celebrates her centenary at a thanksgiving service at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Colombo.
Mrs. Pushpa Rajaratnam takes over the Principalship in 1996. We witness a period of great faith and determination as Chundikuli picks-up the pieces and begins to rebuild. The Page Memorial chapel is opened in 2004. A worthy and timely tribute to all those who had built the school “standing firmly on their knees”. English as a medium of instruction is brought back after 40 years.
The Post-war era: Chundikuli welcomes its youngest Principal, Dushyanthi Thuseetharan, a former Head Girl of the school. Chundikuli launches the biggest outreach programme in its history. Over 150 scholarships are provided for orphaned and disadvantaged girls from the Vanni to attend Chundikuli as day scholars and boarders. New reforms are brought into the curriculum of the school to support the reconstruction and rehabilitation of students, staff and the community. Great progress is made in the areas of Information Technology (ICT), sports and academics.