User:Prof Mathew C Ninan/sandbox

Prof. Mathew C. Ninan (born 1950) is the Principal of the reputed Little Rock Indian School in Brahmavar, Udupi District in Karnataka. He is the recipient of the Kannada Rajyotsava Award for Education from the Udupi District in 2014.

Prof. Ninan had his early education in Kerala, schooling in CMS UP School, and High School, Kodukulanji and his collegiate education in Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara and St. Joseph’s College, Kozhikode.

He did his MA (English Language & Literature) under the renowned Professor C A Sheppard, in the Calicut University. Thereafter he started his career in teaching as a Lecturer in English at SMS Junior College, Brahmavar in Karnataka. Then he moved to St. Aloysius College, Mangalore and lectured there till he was appointed Principal of newly started SMS College, Brahmavar. He served as its Principal for seven years. During this period, Dr. C.T. Abraham his father-in-law came to Brahmavar and established the Priority One India, a charitable organization. It was Professor Ninan’s dream to start a progressive, central school in Brahmavar. There was only a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Mangalore those days. Thus in 1982 the Little Rock Indian School, affiliated to CBSE was started. Little Rock was the first school affiliated to a central board in the private sector in southern Karnataka. The rest is history.

During an interregnum between his collegiate service and transition to School education, he completed his MEd (Educational Management) in the University of Bath, UK in 1989. “This became the turning point of my life” says Professor Ninan. He became a self-confessed votary of children’s rights and a strong advocate of student-friendly school. No doubt Little Rock has become synonymous with quality progressive education.

Distinctions/Awards

Awards from Manipal Jaycees (1985), Future Schools, Bangalore (2003,) Brahmavar-Barkur Citizens’ Forum (2007), Lions Club International, Udupi Region (2013), Udupi Dist Rajyotsava Award for distinguished service in the field of ‘Education’ (2014).

Publication: Published a book on school education, Soliloquies of a Principal Professional Interests : Attended many national and international conferences in India and in foreign countries.

Ninan has conducted numerous faculty development seminars for Principals, teachers and parents in different parts of the country. Presented papers at several national level seminars. Topics of interest are School Climate, School Effectiveness, Leadership, Inter-personal relationships, Classroom Management, Classroom Communication, Classroom teaching strategies, Parenting etc.

He is also engaged in an honorary capacity as the Director of the Little Rock Institute for Educational Leadership which is established to help schools/colleges in their faculty development programmes.

Little Rock’s Distinctions

1.Computer Literacy Excellence Award in 2002 instituted by the IT Ministry, Govt of India, for having the best IT facilities amongst the Schools in Karnataka State. The Award was presented by the Hon’ble President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on August 29, 2002 at New Delhi.

2.State Championship in 2003, 2004, 2012 and 2014 in Rural IT Quiz conducted by the IT ministry, Govt of Karnataka and TATA Consultancy Services, Bangalore. Little Rock received the State Runners-up in 2006, 2007 and 2011. Once again the National Runners-up in 2012.

3.Verbattle – State-wide English Debate Competition winners (Junior Category) - 2012.

4.National School Sanitation Award in 2012 (awarded to 100 select schools from all over India by the HRD ministry, Govt of India)

5.Best School Award for the last 23 years consecutively from the Rotary Udupi, based on a General Knowledge Test conducted for the schools of Udupi District.

6.Little Rock has conducted three international conferences – in 2004, 2006 and 2014. More than 800 School Principals and senior faculty from all over South India have participated in these conferences. Such conferences are rarely conducted by Schools in India.