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History |
On a plateau bordering the Colombo – Kandy highway, within Kegalle town limits, stands the Girls College, Kg/ St Joseph’s Balika Maha Vidyalaya as one of the leading national schools in the island. As an educational institution, St Joseph’s Balika Maha Vidyalaya has spread its glory in academic and Para academic activities, student discipline and moral decency not only in Sri Lanka but also internationally. The school was started by The Sisters of Charity on 14th Jan, 1910, in proximity to St. Joseph’s Convent, Kegalle. At its inception, the school- named Kg/St. Joseph’s convent girls’ English school - consisted of 8 students and 2 teachers, in a 20’ x 60’ building. Because of the quality of education imparted to the students both formally and informally, it won the approval of the authorities. And thus, was recommended and accepted as an assisted school. The first principal, Sr.Wilmer and other sisters began inculcating the intrinsic worth of moral values and good manners in their students, while in parting them the benefits of formal education in English medium. Then came Miss Hace, an Irish lady who was an educationist of exceptional ability and vision who also had an outstanding flair for opera and everything musical. By these the, school had gained wider recognition and the demand of a school boarding has been aroused. Once this was started, students from far and near flocked to St.Joseph’s Convent. Time to time principals too had changed, but the most important thing was that all of them were straight and frightfully severe when the need arose, but with a warmly human heart. They were ideal principals and during their regimes, they streered the school towards greater heights in every field of activity as well as maintaining the high standards set by their foreign predecessors. From the very beginning the school was at it’s best in academic studies. In the time of Sr. Ann, Josephians gained 100% results with two Distinction passes (where there were only eight for the whole-island) from Junior Cambridge Students Examination. During Sr. John’s period there were also outstanding results of Senior Cambridge. Later, students performed well in SSC, HSC, examinations also. All these could not have been achieved by the principals alone. As the school and the convent were then one unit, all the Mothers also gave their co-operation to achieve those goals. Another important issue was the beginning of and Old Girls Association by Sr. John in 1951. |
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As, only the daughters of affluent families could afford the admission to the English school; another school was started as Kg/ St.Joseph,s Girls’ Sinhala school or Kg/Kegalle Roman catholic girls school for the others. When those schools were vested in the crown with effect from 15th march, 1962; they were amalgamated to form the present Kg/ St.Joseph,s Balika Maha Vidyalaya, with a student population of more than that 1000. |
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According to the records at that time, the Principal of the English school was Sr. Mary Paul, and of the Sinhala school was Mrs, M.W. Baduge. |
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After the school was taken over by the government, a new era was began. From the first principal, Mrs. Malika Wijesinghe, the school was blessed with dedicated principals who were straight, efficient. and also were who did their atmost to improve knowledge and skills but also to inculcate good behaviour and moral values in the students. In 1963 the school commenced Advanced Level with Art stream and Science stream was started in 1975. From 1962 to 1982 there was an increase in the number of enrolling students from 1000 – 3300. From 1986, there was also an increase in the number of students who were selected for the universities in all streams. A rapid increase in facilities could also be seen. In 1975, the upstairs of the main hall was taken to the school from the convent. Laboratories, both junior & senior (1984), sports room & pavilion (1985), dental unit (1986), Indoor stadium (1991), libraries, Western music unit, weights room main hall, special educational unit, Computer Units were only very few of them. In 1984, the school was named as one of the first 14 National school by the government. And day by day, number of students increased. Due to this, the primary section was moved to another site, about ½ Km, from the main section. Special educational unit too was moved there and an equipped auditorium was also built there by the parents and the Ministry in 1997. In 2001, bi - lingual education had also been started for the benefit of the of the students. It is conducted from 6 – 13 and all there A1 streams, Science, Arts and Commerce. Now we are firmly and steadily marching towards an ambitious goal mixed with a strain of idealism. As on a 1 AB type school, the school is growing stronger everyday in every aspect. Now number of students has become 4172 while number of classes are 102. And the present academic staff is 183and the non academic staff is 25. In academic and extra-curricular activities the school achieves the best results by providing qualitative education and facilities in all aspects. Today the school can proudly claim to be one of the leading educational institutions in Sri Lanka. |
Our Principals: Sr. Wilmer |
1911- 1925 |
Primary Section
The School will be completing its century of excellent service to the nations future generation in 2010. A swimming pool 25m long and 16m wide is to be constructed as well as a four storied building an agriculture laboratory and a toilet, computer for the advanced level section is being constructed to commemorate that great event. Several island wide competitions in sports, esthetic and literary fields, fairs, exhibitions, concerts, as well as religious activities are also being planned by the students, staff, parents and past pupils. |
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