Teachers Day: Peek into history of Teachers’ Training College in Saidapet

Its origin is to be traced back to the first Government Normal School opened in Vepery on March 1, 1856, with JT Fowler as its head. In the early days, the Normal School gave free instruction to pupils in general as well as in professional courses, conducted its own examinations and awarded its own certificates. The affiliation of the Normal School with the University of Madras marks the next important stage in its history. Immediately after its affiliation in 1887, the institution came to be called The Teachers’ Training College and the college was transferred to Saidapet in the same year and located on the first floor of the Agricultural College, till it was moved to the new building constructed on the same campus in 1889. The College presented students for the first time for the LT Degree examination in 1888.

Two girls were admitted for the first time to the College in the LT Class in 1892. The College hostel was constructed in 1897 to accommodate 60 students and the hostel began to function on November 15, 1897.  Till TV Sivakumara Sastriar was appointed principal in 1918 a series of 10 Englishmen led the institute commendably. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan secured an LT Qualification from the college.