ST.THERESA'S GIRL'S VIDYALAYAM

The good work done at mantivu pleased Mgr.Gaston Robiche,SJ,bishop of Tincomalee- Batticaloa so much, that he urged a foundation in Batticaloa itself. This would also be a great boon to the isolated community at Mantivu. In spite of challenges Bishop Robichez his mission.

Bishop continue to work for the foundation, he envisaged in which sisters would engaged in number of apostolates. By 1923 he was already busy with purchase of various pieces of land and construction of buildings. This was accompanied by serious financial problems. The Bishop received a letter from Rome assuring him that “the Province of St.Joseph will bear the cost of both land and constructions “during her general visit in March 1924,Sr.M.Elizabeth de I’ Annonciation. finally on September 1,1927Sr. M.veronique Giuliani and her four companions arrived. where they were welcomed by Parish Priest and people.The foundation for the building began the patroness of the convent was St. Theresa of the child Jesus. On the convent promise there was already a Tamil school with four lay staff for some 120 children,76 of whom were catholics.There were 5 classess but no recognized examinations,up to that time carmel sisters who had a convent in town.T he superior came encourage the FMMin the work they were handing over them.

The tamil school in Batticaloa developed year after year and a new building was constructed in1930.In 1934, for the first time, children were prepared for the vernacular school leaving certificated and junior school certificate examinations. By 1937,there were 10 class with an enrolment of 213 and a staff od 8 lay teachers and 1 FMM nun.The student were being prepared for the senior school Certificate examination. After the bombing by the Japanese in1942,some of the children did not return to school, however, the school continued to progress with quite satisfactory examination results.In 1946,at the standard V examination one of the children received the first prize for the whole district,and Sr.M.jean Raphael, the superior,presented her with a scholarship to our lady of Victories, Moratuwa.A few years later when the government no longer recongnized the standard V and junior school examinations, the student were prepared for the tamil secondary school certificated examination. These principles were reiterated by Sr.M.Nortre Dame de Deols whenshe visitedas provincial from July 18y0 24,1940.moreover,she gave ideas on modern methods for the formations of the children and adolescents and asked that a netball court be installed. 1964 St.Theresa's Girls' Vidyalayam became a govern school under the FMM nuns.