After his retirement from MCC School, Kuruvila Jacob was much in demand as an educator. The Hyderabad Public School, which had originally been set up in 1923 as a school for the sons of jagirdars under the Nizam and had after Independence been converted into a public school, had fallen on bad times. The beautiful buildings were in disrepair, the teachers were unmotivated, and there was a lot of thieving and pilferage. The Andhra Pradesh government turned to Kuruvila Jacob as the one person who could pull the school out of all this mess. His condition that he be given a totally free hand was accepted and adhered to.
In the seven years he spent in Hyderabad, Kuruvila Jacob worked wonders. He dismissed dishonest and inefficient staff, revamped the diet for the boarders, brought in new equipment, and persuaded young volunteers from Britain and America to come in as teachers. This was a great experience for both the students and the local teachers. With all these efforts, the school considerably raised its standards and began to attract students from all over the country. Kuruvila Jacob had once again demonstrated his special gifts in building up an institution of national repute.
In 1969, Kuruvila moved to Bombay to become the Principal of Cathedral and John Cannon School. This was a well-established institution, run on British lines. As at MCC School, Kuruvila Jacob was its first Indian head. He soon started getting the School out of its British leanings by celebrating India's Republic Day-another first for the colonial institution. He closely monitored the performance of the students and brought about significant improvement in the examination results. Again, typical of him, he encouraged sports activities.
As the school had no playgrounds, he hired the facilities of the Bombay Gymkhana Club. A significant achievement was his implementation of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, through which the students were trained in various skills. In 1970, the Government of India conferred the Padma Shri on Kuruvila Jacob in recognition of his invaluable contribution to education.
When Kuruvila Jacob turned 75 years of age, he decided it was time to finally retire before age took its toll. He and his wife moved to Vellore, to be near their children. Even at the height of his working life, he had always made time for his children-Rebekah, Chacko, and Sulochana and their activities.
Now he could indulge his grandchildren, encouraging their talents, the greatest pleasure for grandparents. He loved gardening and now had the opportunity to try out his green thumb. Kuruvila also stayed in touch with education, frequently contributing articles to the newspapers.
On the 25th day of August 1991, Kuruvila Jacob was called to his Maker. When the British were leaving India, Lord Wavell said: "People like to be remembered, not for the institutions they set up, but by the ideals they leave behind." This is the best epitaph for Kuruvila Jacob, whose ideals and values continue to live in all the three institutions-in Madras, Hyderabad, and Bombay.
Kuruvila Jacob’s surviving children are Rebeka Mani, who lives in US and Dr. Sulochana Abraham, who lives in Vellore. Dr.K. Chakko Kuruvila, only son of Kuruvila Jacob, passed away on July 7, 2004 in U.S.A.