Appointing 112 Grade II principals in one go is a record for Tamil Nadu, says Higher Education Minister

The appointment of 112 Grade II principals in government arts and science colleges in one go “without any interruptions” or “recommendations” has never happened before in Tamil Nadu, Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan said here on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters at the Madras Christian College (MCC) after giving away medals and certificates to graduands at its 47^th Graduation Day, Mr. Viswanathan said the appointment of 112 principals was a record of sorts, and that the appointment of Grade I college principals was also in progress. “Out of the 25 vacancies in Grade I principal posts, we have already filled 10,” he said.

Appointment of full-time principals to government arts and science colleges in Tamil Nadu had been pending for about two years. A seniority list was drawn up in 2023 to fill up vacancies, but appointments could not be made due to a stay by the Madras High Court.

“This Teachers’ Day, I am glad to inform you that without any interruptions, without any recommendations, without any kind of corruption, big or small, this government has made these appointments in the Higher Education Department in a transparent way,” the Minister said.

Answering questions, he said that in the Assembly, at least 60 members had made requests for new schools, arts and science colleges, and engineering colleges in their constituencies. The government requires at least ₹18 crore to set up an arts and science college, while for an engineering college, the investment has to be at least ₹20 crore.

“After the Budget session, we will bring these issues before the Chief Minister for a decision. Even if they are approved this year, the new colleges could start functioning only from the next academic year,” Mr. Viswanathan told the reporters.

Earlier, addressing students, faculty, and parents, he said the Higher Education Department would take steps to ensure that all colleges had active and functioning placement cells to handle internships and industrial trainings for students, besides getting them placed in different companies.

Presenting the annual report, Paul Wilson, principal and secretary, MCC, said the 189-year-old institution had, for the first time since 1939 (when the institution went co-ed), begun admitting women students under the sports quota through alumni engagement. So far, its faculty members have filed 23 patents, out of which, 17 have been published.

At the MCC-MRF Innovation Park, more than 10 start-ups have been incubated. A total of 3,181 students of the aided stream, including 1,956 women, graduated on Saturday.