Great history of our school

Kn/Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam holds a distinguished place in the educational history of Kilinochchi. Founded by Sir Pon. Ramanathan on July 29, 1927, the school was established to fulfill the educational needs of the workers' children of the Iranaimadu tank construction. It was the first school in Kilinochchi town, a region rich in water and land resources, and was initially known as J/Kilinochchi Government Tamil Mixed School, located on a one-acre plot near Kakka Kadai Junction on Wilson Street.

The school's first principal was Mr. J.N. Saravanamuthu. The year 1938 was significant in the school's history with the introduction of Junior School Certificate (JSC) classes. The school, which began with approximately forty students, experienced a substantial increase in enrollment during the 1960s, largely due to the establishment of the Paranthan Chemical Factory and the resettlement in the Kilinochchi area. By 1969, student numbers had exceeded a thousand. During this period, the school gradually expanded, adding classrooms, a new office, a main hall, and teachers’ quarters. The contribution of Principal Mr. K. Vaithiyanathan to the development of the school's physical infrastructure is noteworthy. Under his leadership, the hall (classroom block) on the northern side of the school was constructed. The additional funds needed for this project were raised from Kilinochchi town merchants, parents, and well-wishers, and he successfully completed the construction. Remarkably, outside of school hours, the principal and teachers carried a tree root that resembled Lord Ganesha on their shoulders through the streets of Kilinochchi to raise funds for this construction. This hall is commonly used for Saraswati Pooja, cultural events, and gatherings.

In 1963, the school was promoted to the status of J/Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam and became a center for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level (O/L) examination. GCE O/L classes began in 1964, and the school received approval to start GCE Advanced Level (A/L) Arts classes in 1968, with the first A/L Arts classes commencing in 1973.

As the population of Kilinochchi began to grow, so did the need for better learning facilities. To accommodate this growth and provide a more conducive learning environment, the school community, led by Principal Mr. M. Shanmuganathan, secured a 50-acre plot in Rathnapuram (now known as Anandapuram) in 1974, as the school's current location was limited due to surrounding offices. In 1977, the secondary section and Advanced Level (Grades 6 to A/L) were relocated to the new site, while the primary section (Grades 1 to 5) continued to operate at the current location under the name J/Kilinochchi Kanista Vidyalayam as the primary division of J/Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Principal Mr. A.K. Rajendram, Grade 6 classes were reintroduced at Kilinochchi Kanista Maha Vidyalayam in 1981, and GCE O/L classes commenced in 1985, with the first batch graduating that same year. Notably, following the establishment of Kilinochchi as a separate district in 1984, the school's name was changed from J/Kilinochchi Kanista Maha Vidyalayam to Kn/Kilinochchi Kanista Maha Vidyalayam, reflecting its new district identity. During this period, the school also excelled in the Grade 5 scholarship examination and quickly emerged as the leading school in the district for both Grade 5 and GCE O/L achievements.

Under the leadership of Principal Mr. J.M.P. Jeyarajah, the school continued to excel not only in academics but also in extracurricular activities, particularly in sports, consistently achieving outstanding results. In 1993, the school was approved to start GCE A/L Arts and Commerce streams, and in 1994, it was upgraded to Kn/Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam, with the A/L Arts stream starting in 1994 and the Commerce stream in 1995.

Despite facing numerous political, social, and economic changes, and enduring the country’s crises that led to multiple displacements and the loss of many resources, the school never lost hope and managed to stabilize and rise again, which stands as a testament to its resilience. After the final phase of the war between 2007 and 2009, which caused extensive destruction of the school's physical resources and documents, it was able to return to its original location on January 19, 2010.

Since then, Kn/Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam has continued to uphold its reputation as the leading school in the district, excelling in both academic and extracurricular activities thanks to the combined efforts of its principals, teachers, students, alumni, parents, and well-wishers. On May 3, 2013, the school was upgraded to a 1AB school, and Mathematics and Science streams were introduced. The school has achieved outstanding results in these streams, leading to a significant number of students gaining admission to universities. While university admissions remain a top priority, many students have also excelled in the Grade 5 scholarship and GCE O/L examinations, with several achieving top marks.

Kn/Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam has also made its mark at the provincial, national, and international levels. Based on the 2021 results, 11 students were selected for Engineering and 6 for Medicine, with a total of 73 students gaining university admission. In the 2021 GCE O/L examination, the school achieved a 94% pass rate, with 19 students obtaining 9As and 12 students securing 8ABs. In the Grade 5 scholarship examination, 96% of the students passed, with 52 students scoring above the cutoff marks.

The achievements of our students in national-level examinations and extracurricular activities are commendable, and the school continues to set benchmarks in these areas. As of 2024, the school has 2,173 students, including 724 in primary, 1,153 in middle school, and 347 in the A/L section, supported by a dedicated team of 107 teachers.

We are proud that our school's performance metrics not only reflect its status as a leading institution in the district but also serve as a benchmark for district-wide performance. Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam shines as a beacon in Kilinochchi town, serving as a platform for preparing students for tomorrow's modern professional world and shaping them into individuals who uphold human values. The dedication and hard work of principals, teachers, students, alumni, parents, and well-wishers deserve recognition for their contributions to the school's development. It is the collective efforts of everyone involved that drive the school's operations forward in a positive and progressive direction.