For a long time Kerala (erstwhile Travancore) had two media of education:
English and Malayalam. Ali pupils started their education in Primary I class in
Malayalam medium and continued their education upto primary IV. At the end of
primary education, pupils opted to go either to English or Malayalam medium. One
of the main factors in opting one or the other was economic reasons. Monthly
school fees in English middle school was Rupees 5.25 while in the Malayalam
middle school it was only half a rupee and in the higher classes it was only a rupee.
( The price of coconuts in those days was only 1.5 rupees for 100; this meant that
to pay monthly school fee for a middle school pupils it would be equal to the price
of 200 coconuts. It was next to impossible for many a parent.).
Those opted to the English medium studies in Preparatory, Forms I,II in middle
school section and forms VI, V&VI in the high school. Successful candidates
obtained English School Leaving Certificate. However those in the Malayalam
medium studied in Classes 5,6 and 7 in the middle school section and Classes
8and9 in the High School. At the end of middle school education, they secured
Vernaculalr school leaving certificate while in the high school they obtained
Malayalam Higher Certificate. There was a provision for transfer from Malayalam
medium to the English at the end Classes 7 or 9. Those successful class seven
pupils were admitted to From II while those successful at the Higher certificated
examination were permitted to join From IV and continue English education and
obtain E.S.L. Certificate. The E.S.L.C system continued till 1952 ; From,
certificates issued were called Secondary School Leaving Certifacte.
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