CTE - Kerala A Glance

COUNCIL FOR TEACHER EDUCATION (CTE)
Kerala State Centre

Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai (1935-2007)

The Council for Teacher Education (CTE), Kerala State Centre, was established in 2001 under the able leadership of Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai, one of the veteran educationists of our country and a close associate of Dr. Gulab Chaurasia, National President of CTE. Dr. Pillai introduced many innovative programmes and conducted campaign among the teacher educators in the state. Mr. T. K. Mathew, Titus II Teachers College Thiruvalla, was nominated as Secretary and entrusted him the task of enrollment of teacher educators. An Executive Board was constituted for the effective organization of CTE activities in the state.

Office Bearers (2001)

Chairman	:	Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai
Vice Chairman	:	Dr. P. Viswanadhan Nair
Secretary	:	Mr. T.K. Mathew
Jt. Secretary	:	Mrs. M. Vijayakumari Amma
Executive Board	:	Prof. K.M. Rajan
	:	Prof. C. Abdusalam
	:	Mr. C. Narayana Pillai

First Souvenir of CTE

The First State Convention and National Seminar was organized on 8th & 9th March, 2002 at Mar Theophilus Training College, Thiruvananthapuram under the convenorship of Rev. Fr. Dr. Jose Konnath (now Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas, Bishop of Bathery, Wayanad). Dr. Gulab Chaurasia, Dr. Dev Raj Vij, Dr. Surya Nath Prasad and Mrs. Sushila Chaurasia were the prominent dignitaries attended the conference besides educationists and teacher educators of the state. 

Annual conferences and national seminars are regular events of CTE since inception. The 8th & 9th were International Conferences. The International Education Meet on Education for Global Excellence organized as part of the 10th State Convention and the 26th Annual National Convention of CTE will be hosted by Mar Theophilus Training College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram in collaboration with Association of International Researchers of Indian Origin (AIRIO, USA), Dr. N. P. Pillai Centennial Celebration Committee and Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Foundation.

A brief account of the earlier conferences are given below.

Year	Organized by	Theme
2002	Mar Theophilus Training College, Thiruvananthapuram	Revamping Teacher Education in Kerala
2003	Mar Theophilus Training College, Thiruvananthapuram	Innovations in Teacher Education
2004	Govt. College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram	Challenges of Teacher Education in the Emerging Context
2005	St. Joseph Training College, Ernakulam	Teacher Education for a New World Order
2006	N.S.S. Training College, Ottapalam	Total Quality Management
2007	Govt. College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram	Unifying B.Ed. Programme in Kerala
2008	Govt. College of Teacher Education, Kozhikkode	Beyond Constructivism: Exploring Future Learning Paradigm
2009	Department of Education, Thiruvananthapuram	Development Education: Paradigm for  21st Century  Teachers
2010	St. Thomas Training College, Pala	Peace Education: An Orientation for Gen Next

 At present there are 782 Individual Life Members and 37 Institutional Life Members. The administration is vested in the Executive Committee elected every three years.

Dr. V. M. Sasikumar, Former Secretary, has been nominated as National Vice President (South Zone) in 2010.

CTE Kerala State Centre was selected as the Best State Centre in the country at the Silver Jubilee National Convention of CTE held at Mohali, Chandigarh in 2010, and was awarded the Rolling Trophy instituted by Dr. Nilima Bhagabati (Assam) and family. Dr. C.P. Sreekantan Nair, Chairman Kerala received the Rolling Trophy from Dr. Rajaneesh Arora, Vice Chancellor Technical University, Jalandhur, Punjab. Dr. M.S. Geetha, General Secretary, Dr. Grace Annie Mathew, Principal, Jameela Beevi College of Teacher Education, Dr. V. M. Sasikumar, National Vice President, (South Zone), and Fr. Dr. Rajan, Associate Professor, St. Joseph’s Training College, Mannanam were present. Dr. D. R. Vij, National President, CTE and Dr. Nilima Bhagabati are also seen.

Patrons of CTE Kerala	:	Dr. A. Sukumaran Nair, Former Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
	:	Most. Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas, Bishop of Bathery, Wayanad

Office Bearers 2010-2012

Chairman	:	Dr. C.P. Sreekantan Nair, Academic Director, PTM College of Education
Vice Chairmen	:	Dr. G. Sarathchandra Raj, Former Principal, NSS Training College, Ottappalam
	:	Prof. K. Jacob Mathew, Former Principal, Govt. College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram
	:	Dr. Grace Annie Mathews, Principal, Jameela Beevi Memorial College of Teacher Education, Kayamkulam
	:	Dr. M. S. Geetha, Principal, Govt. Brennen College of Teacher Education, Thalasserry, Kannur
General Secretary	:	Dr. K. Y. Benedict, Associate Professor, Mar Theophilus Training College, Thiruvananthapuram
Secretaries	:	Dr. G. Valsala, Principal, BNV College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram
	:	Dr. M. Vijayakumari Amma, HH.Govt. College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram
	:	Dr. Babu Kochamkunnel, Principal, PKM College of Education, Madambam, Kannur
	:	Ms. A. Jayanthi, Asst. Professor, JPE Training College, Koorkenchery, Thrissur
Treasurer	:	Dr. K. Rajeswari, Asst. Professor, Govt. College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram

Awards instituted by CTE Kerala Centre,

Ø      Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Memorial Award for Academic Excellence 

o        (Rs.10,001/- Cash and Memento)

Ø      Dr. K. Soman Memorial Award for Teacher Educator of the year

o        (Rs. 2001/- Cash, Memento & Certificate)

Ø      Dr. N. Vedamani Manuel Memorial Award for Best paper presenter

o        (Rs. 1001/- and Certificate)

Ø  Dr. N. D. Joshi Memorial Rolling Trophy for Institutional life Members

Ø      Mementos and Certificate for  Doctoral Degree Awardees.

CTE Life Membership (Individual)      - Rs. 500/-

CTE Life Membership (Institutional)  - Rs. 1500/-

Address for Communication
Dr. C.P. Sreekantan Nair, Chairman, CTE Kerala, (Academic Director, PTM College of Education), Pulipara, Kalliyoor P.O., Thiruvananthapuram - 42, Mob. 09446171079

Dr. K.Y. Benedict, General Secretary, CTE Kerala, Associate Professor, Mar Theophilus Training College, Nalanchira, Trivandrum-15, Mob: 09387829922

Dr. N. P. Pillai Memorial Lecture

Dr. N. P. Pillai (1912-1984)

Dr. N. P. Pillai, the most sought-after and dynamic teacher educator who was a source of inspiration for teacher educators for a long period was commemorated by the Council for Teacher Education (CTE),  Kerala State Centre in the year 2004. Since then in the annual conventions of CTE, Kerala State Centre, Dr. N. P. Pillai Commemoration Lecture became a part of the programme. The First Memorial Lecture was delivered by Dr. C. P. Sreekantan Nair, Former Principal, Farook Training College, Kozhikkode. Dr. G. Sarathchandra Raj, Former Principal, NSS Training College Ottappalam, Palakkad, Dr. N. Vedamani Manual, Former Professor and Head, Department of Education, University of Kerala, Dr. A. Sukumaran Nair, Former Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Dr. R. Sukumaran Nair, Former Professor and Head, Department of Education, University of Calicut, Dr. Vasantha Ramkumar, Former Professor and Head, Department of Education, University of Kerala and Dr. K. R. Sivadasan, Former Professor of Education, University of Kerala were the eminent educationists who delivered it in the subsequent years. This year (2011) the Dr. N. P. Pillai Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Dr. V. Sukumaran Nair, Former Professor of Political Sciences, M. S. M College, Kayamkulam.

Dr. N . P. PILLAI - Legend Teacher Educator par excellence

Dr. N. Parameswaran Pillai(popularly known as Dr. N. P Pillai), the veteran educationist was born at Ereniel, presenly in the Kanyakumari Dist. of Tamilnadu, on 26th July, 1912. Dr. Pillai had his early education at the Govt. High School, Eranial District, then part of Travancore. He obtained his B.A.(Hons) from Madras University with distinction and secured a Gold Medal for his performance. He had his L.T. Degree from Travancore University with flying colours and Ph.D in Education from Birmingham University(UK). Dr. Pillai had also secuered several higher qualifications like diploma in Methods of Historical Research, Industrial Psychology , Vocational Guidance, Educational Measurement etc. Dr. Pillai was associated with the Universities Chicago, Harvard, Princeton and Stanford. He was awarded the prestigious George Cadbury Prize of the Birmingham University for his Ph.D thesis on "Educational Ideas of Mahatma Gandhi"

Dr. Pillai was a born educationist who intentionally opted for the teaching profession when several other positions open to him. He started his career as a High School Teacher in the Government High School, Ereniel and later at the SMV Govt. High School at Thiruvannthapuram. Acquiring higher qualifications he was promoted as Lecturer in History at the Government Training College, Trivandrum and was selected as the First Professor and Head of the Department of Education, University of Kerala. In 1968 he was offered the post of Educational Expert in the University of Philippines by the UNESCO.

Dr. Pillai was accepted as one of the top experts in education in the country during the period. He was instrumental in organizing many National Conferences/Seminars and served in many national committees of the UGC, NCERT etc. He actively participated in the International Forums convened by the UNESCO at Afganistan, Burma, Indonesia, Nepal, China, Singapore, Srilanka etc. During his time he was a much sought-after educationist at both the national and international levels. Dr. Pillai served as the Vice Chairmanof Bharath Sevak Samaj. Chairman of Child Welfare Council, Centre for Educational Research, Innovation and Development, Member of the Presidium of KANFED and Director, State Resource Centre(SRC) etc. He also Chaired the State Committee for Education. He started the Forum for Educational Research and Training Kerala(FERSK) and also founded the international journal- Studies in Education.

Dr. Pillai could be described as the father of educational research in India. He gave a new shape and direction to educational research. He has produced more than a dozen Ph.Ds covering different areas of education. He was instrumental in modernizing teacher education. He developed the Department of Education, Kerala University as an effective launching pad for his followers to carry on their work in teacher education. He authored a number of books on education both English and Malayalam. He also published several research papers in national and international journals.

Dr. Pillai was active in the Indian Association of Teacher Education(IATE), All India Federation of Educational Association(AIFEA), World Confederation of Teaching Profession(WCOTP), International Association of Educators for World Peace(IAEWP) etc. The University Grants Commission(UGC), National Council for Educational Research and Training(NCERT) and NIEPA all looked to him for help in formulating national policies. A known Gandhian, Dr. Pillai also associated himself with Kerala Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi and Kerala Hindi Prachar Sabha.

Dr. Pillai's pleasing manners and stout short physique are still fresh in the minds of all who happened to come in contact with him. It may not be a strange coincidence that his historical innings came to an end on the early hours of 5th September 1984, the Teachers' Day.