Naparima College - History

History

• 1866 Rev. Dr. John Morton, a young Presbyterian minister from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia arrives in Trinidad and is deeply concerned at the social conditions of the population of 25,000 Indians working on the plantations. Morton receives approval of the Maritime synod of the Presbyterian church to found a mission to Trinidad. A friend and colleague, Rev. Dr. Kenneth James Grant from Scotch Hill, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, is appointed as a partner in the project.
• 1870 On November 22, Grant, with his newly wed wife Catherine Copeland of Merigomish, Nova Scotia, and Morton with his wife Sarah, arrive in San Fernando, Trinidad.
• 1870's Gordon, Governor of Trinidad, enacts education ordinance facilitating the establishment of Canadian Mission elementary schools. The "C.M." schools, large one-room wooden constructions, are established in a large number of rural communities in Trinidad, and flourish, eventually numbering over seventy.
• 1880 "Four stations (believed to be Tunapuna, San Fernando, Princes Town and Couva) have been established which serve all parts of Trinidad".
• 1883 Rev. Dr. Grant conducts first secondary school classes for his son George, other children of the Mission, and Charles Pasea, by tradition under a samaan tree on Carib Street, San Fernando, near his own home. This is the site of present-day Susamachar Presbyterian Church, and the Grant Memorial (elementary) School.
• 1890 Rev. Dr. Kenneth J. Grant receives approval of the church for the establishment of a theological training college. When broached to the Presbyterian Assembly in Ottawa, half of Dr Grant's requested funding is donated by two private families within forty-eight hours. This foundation stone of the ministry in Trinidad is later renamed the Presbyterian Training College and then the St Andrews Theological College.
• 1894 Naparima Training College for Teachers is opened; the secondary school classes to become Naparima College are initially merged with NTC classes.
• 1897 Naparima College is made into a separate institution by Rev. Dr. Kenneth J. Grant
• 1898 Rev. Grant purchases "Oriental Hall", land and buildings adjacent to his home, which serves for years as a base of operations for the missionaries, and a home for the early Presbyterian College, Naparima Training College, and Naparima College.
• 1900 Naparima College is formally inaugurated, affiliated with Queen's Royal College in Port of Spain, and loosely modeled after Pictou Academy in Pictou, Nova Scotia. Enrollment is 50, staff complement 4.
• 1904 The first class graduates as holders of the Cambridge Senior School Certificate
• 1917 Naparima College is moved to Paradise Pastures and the first buildings are constructed here overlooking the Gulf of Paria, immediately to the west of the town of San Fernando, where the institution has stood continuously since.
• 1923 Rev. V. B.Walls of Blackville, New Brunswick is appointed principal, and takes up residence on the hill in January 1924. He would serve for almost 30 years.
• 1925-1931 Additional buildings are constructed, including a dormitory, a dining hall (1925), an infirmary (1927), and the central part of the "U" design(1931).
• 1931 The central part of the old "U" building is built, together with the old science lab, and library. Enrollment stands at 200.
• 1932 The main building is constructed along with a Science Laboratory.
• 1936 The first to obtain the Higher School Certificate graduates. The T. Geddes Grant Memorial Dormitory is constructed.
• 1939 First Founders' Day celebration. The wings of the "U" structure are added, replacing two 1917 classrooms.
• 1945 Kathlyn W. Smith became the first girl and the first student of Naparima College to obtain an Island Scholarship. The Junior Red Cross is set up.
• 1946 Enrollment at Naparima College stands at 560, staff of 24 and on-campus residents of 72.
• 1950 Naparima's Golden Jubilee, and Rev. Walls' 25th year. A thousand people attend. In the spotlight with Rev. Walls are H.R.H. Princess Alice and the Earl of Athlone; Rev J. C. MacDonald (early principal), Sidney Hogben, Director of Education; Roy Joseph, Mayor; and many dignitaries. The present-day flag staff is donated by Trinidad Leaseholds Ltd and erected and used for the first time at the Golden Jubilee
• 1953 Rev. Walls retires (1952) and so the position of principal passes to Rev. E. T. Lute of Toronto.
• 1954 An Audio-Visual Room and a classroom public address system ("the Blue Circle Network") is installed.
• 1954 Permanent sites are secured for Tunapuna and Siparia campuses.
• 1956 Uniform of white shirts and silver-grey khaki trousers is established as well as the First Naparima College Sea Scout Troop.
• 1957 Larry Lutchmansingh becomes the first Naparima College boy to obtain an Open Scholarship.
• 1958 Introduction of the Naparima College Badge as part of the school's attire.
• 1959 Under Rev. E. T. Lute, new concrete and steel present-day buildings are constructed. The timber from the old 1931 buildings is used to build a new gymnasium, used until 1995. Rev. Lute also introduces the 'house system'. Six houses were originally set up, but this number was later reduced to four: Walls House (red); Sammy House (blue); Flemington House (gold); and Grant House (green). National independence of Trinidad looms, and it is evident that many institutions of the past will be passed to local autonomy. Enrollment stands at close to 700.
• 1960 Naparima celebrates its "Diamond Jubilee", the 60th year of its official recognition. Rev. Walls returns from his retirement in New Brunswick for the celebrations.
• 1962 Trinidad & Tobago becomes an independent country. Rev. James Forbes Sieunarine, (named after an early missionary) becomes the first principal to emerge from among the students of the Canadian Mission..
• 1963 The Walls Pavilion is constructed on the playing field off Rushworth St.
• 1966 Allan I. McKenzie is appointed principal.
• 1967 The dormitory is re-furbished as classroom space. This is also the last year that girls attend Naparima College. The present day school uniform is inaugurated.
• 1969 Won island-wide TTT Quiz contest as well as the Drama Festival's best production with A Little Soap and Water written and produced by Hafeezul Sukoorali.
• 1972 Won Best Production in the Drama Festival with "Tears In the Gayelle" written by Dennis Noel and produced by Rosemarie Wyse. A banquet is hend in honor of Sir Issac Hayatali on his appointment as Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago.
• 1975 The United Church Board of Missions formally closes the Canadian Mission to Trinidad. A Chemistry lab is added.
• 1976 The following national trophies are won - National Championship Cricket, National Junior Cricket, National Inter-Col Final (football).
• 1976 Naparima College became the first team to win consecutive Inter-Col Finals.
• 1984 A Zoology laboratory is added.
• 1991 The V.B. Walls Pavilion is renovated.
• 1996 95% of the 120 boys writing the "O" level school-leaving exams secured passes in five or more subjects, the highest percentage of passes among the island's high schools.
• 1999 Naparima College won the South Zone SSFL Title, the SSFL League Title and Intercol Title.
• 2000 Former dormitory and dining hall replaced by large new classroom wing.
• 2005 Demolition of the last remaining remnant of the 1931 main building and the water bay, simultaneously increasing the area used as the courtyard.
• 2006 Michael R. Dowlath, a past student and former principal of Iere High School, returns to Naparima College as principal.
• 2007 Naparima College ties for the most Intercol Titles in the country equalling San Fernando Technical & Signal Hill with 6.
• 2009 Opening of the new Auditorium/Gymnasium during the Speech Day proceedings.
• 2010 The main Staff Room was extended to better facilitate the teaching staff. Introduction of a new Form class – 6BS3. Establishment of a new classroom in the Grant's Memorial Wing to house the students of 6A.
• 2010 Naparima College records the most zonal wins for the South Zone Title,14, and the most for any team in their respective zones.
• 2011 Reintroduction of the Teachers vs. Students Cricket Match on Founders' Day as well as the Naparima College Blazer for Form 6 students. Hosts of bi-annual Presbyterian Games. Introduction of the Upper 6 Sleepover.(Year of proposed air-conditioning of the entire Form 6 Block as well as installation of security cameras on campus. )