Sainik School Kazhakootam
Sainik School 'Kazhakootam', Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, is a residential school under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, located approximately 18 km away from Thiruvananthapuram city beside Kazhakoottam - Venjarammoodu bypass and 1 km away from National Highway 66.
The concept of Sainik Schools was proposed by V. K. Krishna Menon, who was India's first Defence Minister from 1957 to 1962. The objective was to set up schools run on military lines in each state of India, which would facilitate the grooming of boys for intake into the National Defence Academy, thus, rectifying the regional and class imbalance in the officer cadre of the Indian Military.
Location
Kazhakootam was chosen as the location for Sainik School in the early 1960s by the then Chief Minister of Kerala, Pattom Thanu Pillai. An area of of undulating terrain was acquired on a hillock near Kazhakootam, close to National Highway 66 and about 18 km away from Thiruvananthapuram. The campus is located on a laterite cliff of 170 feet elevation between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. A part of the land that was previously part of the campus was handed over to KINFRA in early 2000's on lease. The present land area of Sainik School campus is about.Inception
Sainik School Kazhakootam started functioning in the barracks lent by the Indian Army at the army camp at Pangode, Thiruvananthapuram, on 20 January 1962. The initial intake was to classes V, VI, VII, and, VIII, and the strength at inception was 120. This increased to 132 six months later when admission to class XI was opened. The founder principal, headmaster, and registrar were Lt. Col. B. K. Somaiah, Sqn. Ldr. Babu Lal, and Capt. T. V. S. Nair, respectively.The foundation stone of the new campus at Kazhakootam was laid by the then Defence Minister of India, V. K. Krishna Menon on 5 February 1962. Prof. J. C. Alexander, a professor at the College of Engineering, Trivandrum, designed the academic block, the 11 dormitories, and other associated infrastructure. The school shifted to the new campus in 1964.
School crest, motto, and flag
The red, navy-blue, and sky-blue stripes in the school crest are symbolic of the three arms of the Indian Defence Services. Red represents Army, blue represents Navy and sky blue represents Air Force. The letter S, for Sainik School, stands above the three stripes, and a steel-grey band, with the word Kazhakootam inscribed in it, is present below the stripes. Below the main crest is a fluttering ribbon, carrying the School Motto: Gyaan, Anushasan, Sahyog, signifying three of the most valuable qualities expected of a Sainik School Cadet, namely knowledge, discipline, and esprit-de-corpsThe flag, again, has horizontal stripes of the three School Colours, with the school crest at the centre.
School songs and prayer
The English, Hindi, and Malayalam school songs and the Sanskrit prayer are sung in morning assemblies and on special occasions and functions. The English school song was composed by Mrs Myrtle Jacob, a founding member of the English department of the school. Sam'gacchadhvam', the school Sanskrit prayer, is a verse taken from the Rigveda.Administration
Sainik School, Kazhakootam, like the other Sainik Schools, is governed by Sainik Schools Society, which is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Sainik School, Lucknow, which is governed by the UP state government, is an exception. The society is headed by the board of governors, with the Union Defence Minister at the helm. The chief Ministers or Education Ministers are part of the councils of Sainik Schools in their respective states. Further, a senior defence officer chairs a local board of administration. The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command, is in charge of Sainik School, Kazhakootam. The principal, who is the academic and administrative head of the institute, is appointed on deputation and will be of the rank of ⠀⠀colonel⠀⠀ or its equivalent from the ⠀⠀Indian Navy⠀⠀and the Indian Air Force. Vice Principal ' and Administrative Officer ', who are again military officers of or equivalent to the ranks of Lt. Col. or Major, look after the academic and administrative affairs, respectively.The academic activities are coordinated by a Senior Master who reports to the Vice Principal. The non-academic activities, such as estates, are managed by the Quarter Master, cadet's Mess by the Mess Manager, and the Medical Infirmary Room by a Medical Officer. In the absence of an Administrative Officer or Registrar, the role is handled by the Medical Officer.
Among cadets, there are various ranks such as,
| Ranks | Description | Student belonging to |
| School Captain | Leader of the school | Class XII |
| Adjutant | The vice-captain of the school | Class XII |
| Quarter Master | Manages Admin-related duties | Class XII |
| Band Major | Heads School Band | Class XI |
| House Captains | In all 11 houses | Class XII |
| Under Studies | Temporary office bearer at last term | |
| Sergeants | In all 11 houses | Class XI |
| Corporals | Only in Sub Junior Houses | Class X |
Infrastructure and facilities
The school has around 21 classrooms, with laboratories for physics, biology and chemistry departments. There is a computer centre and science park, an arts and craft facility and a library.A riding ring with horses and trainers has been set up. Sports facilities include a swimming pool, clay surfaced tennis court, concreted basketball court, volleyball courts, two football grounds in FIFA dimensions, two hockey courts, gymnastics, gymnasium and football grounds. The National Cadet Corps (India) has an independent Company under Kerala - Lakshadweep region for Sainik School Kazhakootam, called SS COY NCC. The school sends numerous cadets to Republic Day Parade held at Delhi every year.
There is a cadets' mess that can seat more than 700, with an in-house bakery to bake bread. Green initiatives include pig farming on the campus using food waste as fodder. There is an in-house laundry facility in the form of Dhobi Ghat, a cobbler's, post office, barber shop, stationery, and CSD Canteen facility. In the fallow land around school cash crops such as cashew is extensively cultivated.
There is a direct water supply pipeline to school from Aruvikkara river by Kerala Water Authority. There are also transformer facilities by KSEB within campus for continuous power supply. There is also a rainwater harvesting facility in the academic block.
Houses
The school has a residential system of schooling. Only few students who are children of working staff of school enjoy day scholar facility. Others have to compulsorily opt for residential schooling.The residential system in the school is largely a dormitory based.
These dormitories are called as houses. There are a total of 12 houses and the Houses are categorised into three, viz., Senior houses, Junior houses, and Sub-junior houses including girls dormitory.
| Dormitory No. | Name | Eponym |
| 1 | Azad | Chandra Shekhar Azad |
| 2 | Veluthampi | Velu Thampi Dalawa |
| 3 | Manekshaw | Sam Manekshaw |
| 4 | Nehru | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 5 | Shivaji | Shivaji |
| 6 | Prasad | Rajendra Prasad |
| 7 | Ashoka | Ashoka |
| 8 | Rajaji | C. Rajagopalachari |
| 9 | Tagore | Rabindranath Tagore |
| 10 | Cariappa | K. M. Cariappa |
| 11 | Patel | Vallabhbhai Patel |
| 12 | Manikarnika | Rani of Jhansi |
Every house has an identical and symmetric structure. These dormitory systems have two large halls called wings. Each wing has around 30 beds. Hence approximate strength in a dormitory is around 60 students. In addition to this each dormitories have a common shared washroom facility having around 8 bathrooms and 8 toilets.
Every dormitory has a first floor in which one faculty member resides. This faculty member is called as House Master. The dormitories also have two big study halls and an office room.