Union College ( ta, ஐக்கிய கல்லூரி ''Aikkiya Kallūri''; UC) is a
provincial school
Provincial may refer to:
Government & Administration
* Provincial capitals, an administrative sub-national capital of a country
* Provincial city (disambiguation)
* Provincial minister (disambiguation)
* Provincial Secretary, a position in Can ...
in
Tellippalai
Tellippalai or Thellippalai ( ta, தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai
,
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
. Founded in 1816 by
American Ceylon Mission
The American Ceylon Mission (ACM) to Jaffna, Sri Lanka started with the arrival in 1813 of missionaries sponsored by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). Although they had originally planned to work in Galle, the Briti ...
, it is one of Sri Lanka's oldest schools.
History
Rev.
Samuel Newell
Samuel Newell (1784–1821) was an American missionary and one of the pioneers of American foreign missions. He served with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in India and Ceylon, where he founded the first American ''Ceylon M ...
, an American missionary of
American Ceylon Mission
The American Ceylon Mission (ACM) to Jaffna, Sri Lanka started with the arrival in 1813 of missionaries sponsored by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). Although they had originally planned to work in Galle, the Briti ...
from
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...
, USA, arrived in Jaffna peninsula on 7 September 1813 and occupied the Dutch Hall in the Town of
Tellippalai
Tellippalai or Thellippalai ( ta, தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai
. Later, American missionaries including Rev.
Daniel Poor Daniel Poor (27 June 1789, Danvers, Massachusetts, United States - 3 February 1855, Manipai, Jaffna) was a Presbyterian missionary and educator, founder of the first English School in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Poor graduated at Phillips Academy, Andov ...
and Rev. Edward Warren joined Newell.
The
American Ceylon Mission
The American Ceylon Mission (ACM) to Jaffna, Sri Lanka started with the arrival in 1813 of missionaries sponsored by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). Although they had originally planned to work in Galle, the Briti ...
, founded in Jaffna District by the pioneer missionaries began establishing numerous Christian schools in the Jaffna peninsula in 1816. Their intention was to spread the Christian message among the Jaffna community.
Rev.
Daniel Poor Daniel Poor (27 June 1789, Danvers, Massachusetts, United States - 3 February 1855, Manipai, Jaffna) was a Presbyterian missionary and educator, founder of the first English School in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Poor graduated at Phillips Academy, Andov ...
established the first school on 9 December 1816 in the town of
Tellippalai
Tellippalai or Thellippalai ( ta, தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai
, sixteen kilometers from the City of
Jaffna
Jaffna (, ) is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna District located on a peninsula of the same name. With a population of 88,138 in 2012, Jaffna is Sri Lanka's 12th most ...
. They taught English and western education among the community which initiated a revolution in the field of western education in Jaffna.
In 1818, the school was converted into 'Family Boarding School' with just six students. In 1821, there were only 11 boys and 3 girls. On June 30, 1823, Rev. Henry Woodward became the head of the school. All nine-girl students of the boarding School were transferred to the new
Uduvil Girls' College
Uduvil Girls' College ( ta, உடுவில் மகளிர் கல்லூரி ''Uduvil Makalir Kallūri'', UGC) is a girls private school in Uduvil, Sri Lanka. Founded in 1820 by American missionaries, it is one of Sri Lanka's oldest ...
. In 1825, the Boarding School was converted into a Preparatory School. Rev.
Levi Spaulding
Levi Spaulding (22 August 1791 – 18 June 1873) was a missionary for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and led a team of American missionaries to choose the ''American Madura Mission'' site for the ...
, who succeeded Woodward in 1828, had to allow his brilliant students join Vaddukkoddai Seminary later known as
Jaffna College __NOTOC__
Jaffna College is a private school in Vaddukoddai, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1871 as a successor to the Batticotta Seminary which had been established by American missionaries.
History
In 1816 American missionaries founded the ...
. In 1820 Rev. Benjamin C. Megis, the head of school, founded a printing press. It was the first press that began printing Tamil publications in the entire world.
In 1869, Chellappah established a new school known as Chellappah English School in the same school campus. The
American Ceylon Mission
The American Ceylon Mission (ACM) to Jaffna, Sri Lanka started with the arrival in 1813 of missionaries sponsored by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). Although they had originally planned to work in Galle, the Briti ...
shifted to Vaddukkoddai Tamil Theological and Training School. to the
Tellippalai
Tellippalai or Thellippalai ( ta, தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai
school campus in 1871. The school became 'grant-in-aid school' in 1875 and earned Rs.300.00 annually from the government. After three years the Mission closed down the Tamil Theological department, added an Industrial Department to the school, and changed the school's name as Tamil Industrial and Training School.
In 1882 Sanders Hall was constructed with the money provided by former students and well-wishers. The Sanders hall had become the main building of the school consisted of a library, offices, student boarding and class rooms . The building was badly damaged during the Sri Lankan Civil War and currently being re-constructed.
The
American Ceylon Mission
The American Ceylon Mission (ACM) to Jaffna, Sri Lanka started with the arrival in 1813 of missionaries sponsored by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). Although they had originally planned to work in Galle, the Briti ...
took over Chellappah School in 1901 and named it American Mission English School. It became a Bilingual School in 1929. In 1939 the schools amalgamated as
Tellippalai
Tellippalai or Thellippalai ( ta, தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai
Union High School. In 1940 it got the current name
Tellippalai
Tellippalai or Thellippalai ( ta, தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai
Union College.
In 1961 the school became a government school.
From 12/12/1990, the school begins functioning at
Ramanathan College
Ramanathan College ( ta, இராமநாதன் கல்லூரி ''Irāmanātaṉ Kallūri'') is a provincial school in Maruthanarmadam near Chunnakam, Sri Lanka.
The singer Maharajapuram Santhanam was once its principal.
See also
* Li ...
as the Sri Lankan army moved into
Tellippalai
Tellippalai or Thellippalai ( ta, தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai
and the whole population from the area got displaced.
10/09/2002 The school started functioning at its original location of
Tellippalai
Tellippalai or Thellippalai ( ta, தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai
which was inside the high security zone.
In 2006 a new class room block was built as most of the buildings were damaged.
In 2011 high security zone at
Tellippalai
Tellippalai or Thellippalai ( ta, தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai
area was removed and the school started operating normally.
In 2016 the school is celebrating its 200th anniversary.
Principals of Union College
Before 1939: ''Rev B. H. Rice, Rev. S. Veerakathy, Mr. S. M. Kandaihpillai, Mr. Taylor Thuraiappapillai, Mr J. V Chellappah, Mr. S. M. Veluppillai, Mr G.A. Ratnavarathar, Mr. C. C. Kanapathippillai, Mr. S.. K. Rasiah''
Union Pictorial, published in 1947 by Union College, Tellippalai
After 1939: ''I.P.Thurairatnam, K.Krishnapillai, T.Nadarajah, Kathir Balasundaram, N.Pushpanathan, N.Kandasamy, P.Kamalanathan, S.Punniyaseelan and V. K. Radnakumar''
I.P.Thurairatnam's noteworthy accomplishments: introduced Senior School Certificate, London Matriculation, University Entrance and High School Certificate classes, inter-house system, Student Christian Movement, Old Boys' Association, Prize Giving, Scout Troop, Cricket and Football, and constructed Malaya Block, pipe-water supply, acquired Second Playground, renovated Biology and Physics laboratories, held Union Carnival and Exhibition and published The Union Pictorial. Union College became Grade I school in 1947.
T. Nadarajah reversed the decline of the school after the school was acquired by the government in 1961.
Novelist Kathir Balasundaram's noteworthy accomplishments: built a large Water Tank and an Open Air Theatre in a newly acquired piece of land, produced good G.C.E A/L results in the period 1986–1990 and constructed a Hindu Temple in 1986. Saturday Review in 1986 in its editorial declared him the best public school administrator in the Jaffna District.
K. Kandasamy successfully managed the school when it got displaced in 1990 due to Sri Lankan Civil War.
S.Punniyaseelan brought the school back to normal operation after the Sri Lankan Civil War.
Old Students Associations
* Union college Old Students Association, Jaffna
* Union college Old Students Association, Colombo
* Union college Old Students Association, Canada
* Union college Old Students Association, UK
* Union College Old Students Association, Sydney
* Union college Old Students Association, Melbourne
* Union college Old Students Association, Norway
* Union college Old Students Association,France
List of schools in Northern Province, Sri Lanka
The following is a list of schools in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The province is divided into 12 education zones which are sub-divided into 33 education divisions. There are around 1,000 schools in the province. 11 schools are national schools ...