Alright folks, hold on tight because we've arrived at our eighth stop on this whirlwind tour! Welcome to the St John De Britto Anglo-Indian High School in Fort Kochi!
Now, this isn't just any old school - it's got a fascinating history and an inspiring namesake. The school is named after John de Britto, a Portuguese Jesuit missionary from the 17th century who was known for his outstanding dedication and, sadly, martyrdom. And let me tell you, this school lives up to his legacy!
Back in 1945, on a glorious Monday, the school opened its doors under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Jose Maria Das Noves. Can you imagine, they started with just 7 staff members and 91 eager students? My, my, how times have changed!
Now, this school was unique because it was established specifically for the Anglo-Indian community - a minority group - so the medium of education here has always been good old English. They were sticklers for it, I tell you! Only later on did it come under the board of secondary education of the Government of Kerala.
I must say, their dedication and hard work paid off. The first batch of students to proudly graduate with the tenth-grade certificate, also known as the Secondary School Leaving Certificate or SSLC, was the mighty 1986 batch. Prior to that, they followed the Madras Syllabus. Ah, the olden days!
And hey, this school is no stranger to excellence. In fact, in 2009, they won the overall wrestling championship at the district mini games held in Muvattupuzha. Talk about muscle power, right?
So there you have it, folks - the St John De Britto Anglo-Indian High School. A place of learning, legacy, and some serious wrestling skills. Shall we head to our next stop?
