In
the 14th & 15th centuries, during the regime of
the Kolathiri Rajas Thaliparambu was renowned all
over Kerala as a seat of learning, enlightenment and
culture. In the early days, the ezhuthupallies (village
schools)under the Ezhuthachan or village school master,
provided facilities to pupils to acquire elementary
education. After undergoing the preliminary course
of study in these institutions, the children were
sent to the kalaries for acquiring training in gymnastics
and, in the use of arms and then to study Sanskrit
in Vedic schools under the religious gurus. The art,
kalaripayattu, famed as the first recorded unarmed
combat training, is associated with this district.
 The
beginning of the Western education in the district
may be traced back to the middle of the 16th century.
The first English school, known as the Basel German
Mission English school, was started on 1st march 1856
at Thalassery. The Brennen school at Thalassery, the
nucleus of the present Govt. Brennen college, was
started in 1862 with the generous donation made by
Mr. Brennen, Master Attendant at Thalassery. The literacy
rate is almost 100 % in Kannur.
There are three Kendriya Vidalyas (Central Schools)
one each at Kannur, Payyannur and Mangattuparamba.
In the higher education field, there are 11 Arts &
science colleges, eight Higher Secondary schools.,
14 Vocational Higher Secondary Schools, four Technical
High School, four Teacher Training Centers (for B.ED
course) and three Polytechnics schools.. The district
has a Govt. Engineering college at Thaliparamba, an
Ayurveda college at Kannur and a Medical college at
Pariyaram.
LIBRARIES
 The
library movement in Kannur district received an impetus
with the passing of the Madras Library Act in 1948
and the constitution of the Malabar local Authority
with headquarters at Kozhikode in 1951. After the
re-organization of states a separate Local Library
Authority was formed for the district with its headquarters
at Thalassery. Along with this Kerala Grandhasala
Sanghom extended its activities to the district. The
Sanghom is a non-official body devoted to the promotion
of the library movement.
There are two renowned libraries in Kannur town, viz,
Kannur Public Library and Jawaharlal Nehru Public
Library. The Kannur Public Library was started in
1929 by a society called "Kannur Public Library
Society" of which his Highness Rama Varma Valiya
Raja of Chirakkal was the patron. The Javaharl Nehru
Public Library was started in 1985 by the Kannur Public
Library and Research Centre. |
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