Unlike others of similar background, the Syrian Christians earlier had no proper education and hence they rarely occupied any important posts in government.  Knowledge of English, which was a necessity in a country over ruled by the British, was very low, particularly among the laity of northern dioceses.   Since the influence of protestant faith was more in the South Travancore areas, the European missionaries started most of the English medium Schools there.   Many of the Syrian Christians studied in these Schools were influenced by the faith of the missionaries and gradually this led to a flow of its faithful to other western Churches.   Most of those who left the Church were southerners.

In the case of Syrian Christians of northern dioceses, the situation was entirely different.  In the midst of effectively blocking the new ideologies introduced by Europeans, these very people preferred to distance themselves away from these missionary schools also.   Instead they followed the traditional system of education that was still continuing.  So they lacked English education more than the northerners, except for a few from the upper class of the society.  

Since all the then three prominent metropolitans of the Malankara Syrian Church - Pulikottil Mor Dionysius V (Kunnamkulam), Kadavil Mor Paulose Athanasius (Angamali) & our Kochu Thirumeni (Mulunthuruthy) - were from Northern Kerala, they had a clear understanding of the entire Suryani community of Malankara.  This prompted them to start English medium schools, first in the north, under the management of the Malankara Church.  Mor Gregorios was entrusted with the mission.

The first three major Schools initiated by Kochu Thirumeni were in the Northern dioceses.   As mentioned earlier, in south Kerala there were already many schools run by the CMS missionaries, but they directly and indirectly taught their faith.   So the Malankara Church decided to start schools in these areas also.  Accordingly His Grace laid the foundation for two schools in the south.   Besides these, many other primary schools were also started by Kochu Thirumeni.   A brief history of the five major schools established by 'Mor Gregorios Bawa' is included in this page.

Following were the prominent Schools established by Parumala Thirumeni.

1}  St.Thomas School, Mulunthuruthy

Mor Gregorious Bawa established the first school of the Malankara Suryani Church at Mulunthuruthy, his native place.  This English Medium School was initially run under the guidance of Parumala Thirumeni and 'Kochu Korah of Chalil' family.  Later this was promoted as an High School, but in due course the school was taken over by the Government.

A poem written in Malayalam on Mor Gregorious Geevarghese (Parumala Thirumeni), by 'Chalil C. Varghese', the brother of Kochu Korah, the co-founder of the St.Thomas School can be accessed by Clicking HERE.

2}  St. Ignatius School, Kunnamkulam

After the establishment of the first School at Mulunthuruthy, Kochu Thirumeni's efforts was to establish an High School at Kunnamkulam, the birth place of the then Malankara Metropolitan Pulikottil Mor Divanyasious V.

In 1899 Aug 15th (M.E- 1st Chingam, 1075), an 'Aan Pallikoodam' (Boy's School) was started by Parumala Thirumeni near the ancient Arthat St.Mary's Church, Kunnamkulam and was named after the Patriarch 'Mor Ignatius Peter III'.  It was on the insistence of our Kochu Thirumeni, the title name of the Patriarch of Antioch, "St.Ignatius"  was given to the new school.

(Following is an excerpt from the book 'Arthat Palli Charitram' published by P C Kunjathu of the Malankara Orthodox Church in 1945, page 23)

Iyakku Mathu of the ancient Panakkal family of Kunnamkulam, was appointed as the first Manager of this School.  He was a prominent person in the durbar of Maharaja of Cochin and was a very close associate of our Kochu Thirumeni.   During the Patriarch Ignatius Peter III's Apostolic visit to Malankara in 1875, he had constructed a  house at Kunnamkulam, specially to accommodate His Holiness and other dignitaries.  For some time this Eyakku Mathu was supporting the rebel bishop, Palakkunnath Methran, but later accepted the Apostolic faith of the Suryani Church on the influence of our Kochu Thirumeni.  He was also the Chief Trustee of the Arthat church for many years and it was under his insistence the present road in front of Arthat Church was constructed, in spite of stiff opposition from the dissidents.  Panakkal Eyakku Mathu died in  the same year, a few months before the death of our Kochu Thirumeni and was buried in the extended portion of the ancient Arthat St.Mary's church, Kunnamkulam.  

Panakkal Eyakku Mathu,  Founder manager of St.Ignatius School

Three years later in 1902, this School was elevated as an High School and after the death of the founder manager,  Panakkal Iypooru Pathappen  administered the school.  Irrespective of caste & creed many were admitted to this famous School, which did not collected any fees for education.  

In 1911, this school was taken over by the Government and even after that, the school is generally mentioned as 'Methrachen's School', in remembrance of its founder, our Kochu Thirumeni.  Fourteen years later in 1925, another School namely, "M.G.D. High School" (named after Pulikottil Thirumeni),  was started by the Arthat church.

3}  St. Mary's School, Kunnamkulam

One year after the beginning of the first school at Kunnamkulam, at a meeting convened by Mor Gregorios on 24th June 1900, decided to start another School at Kunnamkulam 'Pareel Angadi'.  This  was named as St.Mary's School, and Cheruvathoor Mathu Kunjathu was appointed as the first manager.  

4}  M.G.M. School, Tiruvalla

Meanwhile In the Travancore area, CMS missionaries already had some educational institutions.  Many of the Syrian Christian students studied in these schools were attracted towards the western protestant faith propagated by these missionaries . So Parumala Thirumeni was so adamant to start a school by the Suryani community in this area.  While staying at the 'Paliakkara' St.George church during the Great Lent days of 1901, he convened a meeting of the representatives of the nearby churches and requested their help in the construction of the proposed School.  Consequently an official meeting of the Jacobite Syrian Christians, was held under Mor Gregorios in April 1902 and decided to start an English Medium School, named as 'Syrian English School'  by January 1903.  Later, V.Naggayya, the 'Settlement division Peshkar'  inaugurated the foundation stone for this School.   Kochu Thirumeni travelled throughout his dioceses to collect money for the construction of this prestigious School at Thiruvalla.  But Mor Gregorios died on 2nd Nov 1902, just before the completion of the building. 

Later the parish members of the nearby churches, decided to rename the School as 'Mar Gregorios Memorial English High School', named after its founder St.Gregorios of Parumala.   Mor Divanyasious V presided the function that was held at the Parumala Seminary. On  14th January 1903, this famous School was inaugurated by the Malankara Metropolitan Mor Dionysius V.  This M.G.M School initiated by Parumala Thirumeni is still functioning efficiently.

5}  M.G.S   School, Thumbamon

This middle School at Thumpamon was started  by Mor Gregorious.  In due course, it became an High School. 

In recognition to Parumala Thirumeni's efforts in the field of education, the Travancore government honoured His Grace as the 'Trustee' of the committee, that was constituted for the starting of a Government Girls School at Thiruvalla.  The then Maharaja of Travancore, 'Kerala Valiyakoithamburan' was the Chairman of this committee.