As early as in the beginning of the 20th century, the Diocese of Quilon established religious and educational institutions not only for Catholics but for all sections of society. But when the new dioceses of Kottar, Trivandrum, and Punalur were carved out of the territory of the Diocese of Quilon, many institutions under its jurisdiction were handed over to the newly constituted Dioceses. There were 132 vernacular primary schools under the Quilon Diocese. Most of these were later ceded to the dioceses of Kottar and Trivandrum. Later, High Schools and Primary Schools, in the English and Malayalam media, Higher Secondary Schools in the aided and unaided sectors, Fatima Mata National College, and Karmela Rani Training College were established with the ultimate aim of prioritizing the spread of education as the first step to the social uplift of the backward communities.
Fatima Mata National College honors the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary seen in the apparition at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The founder, Bishop Jerome Maria Fernandez, an ardent devotee of Our Lady of Fatima, wished and prayed for her maternal protection and care for every member of the college community. His patriotic spirit also envisioned every Fatimite imbued with a pan-Indian spirit and a genuine sense of dedication and service to the motherland.