Thomas Kunnunkal Explained

Thomas Kunnunkal
Birth Date:3 July 1926
Birth Place:Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Occupation:Catholic priest, educationist
Awards:Padma Shri
Commonwealth of Learning Fellow

Thomas V. Kunnunkal (born 3 July 1926) is an Indian Jesuit priest, educationist[1] and writer.[2] He is a former chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE),[3] a former director of the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi (2008–2009),[4] [5] and the President of the Islamic Studies Association,[6] a non-governmental organization promoting religious harmony.[7] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri in 1974.[8]

Biography

Thomas Kunnunkal was born on 3 July 1926 in Alappuzha, a coastal town in the south Indian state of Kerala, and completed his school education at a local boarding school. He completed his college education in India and later, in the US,[9] majoring in English, Philosophy, Theology, Educational Administration and Educational Measurement, after which he joined the Society of Jesus on 20 June 1945. He started his career as the principal of St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School, New Delhi, and held the post for two terms (1962-1974 and 1977-1979).[10] He headed the Central Board of Secondary Education of the Government of India from 1980 to 1987 and was the consultant to the Ministry of Human Resource Development for the turn-key project to establish the National Open School, New Delhi. When the institution was opened in 1989, Kunnunkal was appointed the chairman of the institution,[11] a position he served in until 1992. He was associated with the Jesuit Education Association of India which controls 101 high schools and 25 colleges in India managed by the Society of Jesus, and was its president and the general secretary on different tenures.[12]

Kunnunkal has served two central government commissions, National Commission for Teachers (1983) and National Commission for Review of National Education Policy (1987) as a member. He held the post of research director of the Indian Social Institute from 2008 to 2009 and was a founding member and former director of the Educational Planning Group (EPG) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi.[13] He has also been associated with the Islamic Studies Association as its president[14] and with Dharma Bharati Mission[15] as an associate.[16] He has published a book, The Role of Teachers in National Regeneration, which was released in 2005. The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1974 and he was selected as an honorary fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, an intergovernmental organization under the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM), which promotes education, in 2006.

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leadership for Mission The Jesus Model . Vidya Jyoti . 2004 . 11 June 2015.
  2. Web site: Fr. Thomas V. Kunnunkal, S.J . St . Xavier's Sr. Sec. School . 2015 . 11 June 2015.
  3. Web site: Instill value of pluralism in students . The Hindu . 15 February 2015 . 11 June 2015.
  4. Web site: 'Educators for Change' meet in Chennai tomorrow . The Hindu . 12 February 2015 . 11 June 2015.
  5. Web site: Fides . Fides . 2005 . 11 June 2015.
  6. Web site: Salam: the ISA Journal . Salam: the ISA Journal . 2015 . 11 June 2015.
  7. Web site: Christian-Muslim Relations . Peacenext.org . 13 February 2012 . 11 June 2015.
  8. Web site: Padma Shri . Padma Shri . 2015 . 11 November 2014.
  9. Web site: Speaker profiles . Foundation for Restoration of Natural Values . 2008 . 11 June 2015.
  10. Web site: Former Principals . St. Xavier's Higher Secondary School . 2015 . 11 June 2015.
  11. Web site: 7 students honoured . The Tribune . 12 September 2002 . 11 June 2015.
  12. Web site: Education is effective instrument for empowerment . UCA News . 29 May 1990 . 11 June 2015.
  13. Web site: Educational Planning Group . St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School . 2015 . 11 June 2015.
  14. Web site: Hizmat Movement: A modern miracle! . Indialogue Foundation . 2015 . 11 June 2015.
  15. Web site: Dharma Bharati Mission . Dharma Bharati Mission . 2015 . 11 June 2015.
  16. Web site: India: a dream for the Indian people . Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat . 2015 . 11 June 2015.