Demand for government arts and science college in Tiruchengode grows louder

A view of the Tiruchengode town in Namakkal district on Sunday. | Photo Credit: E. LAKSHMI NARAYANAN Demand for a government arts and science college at Tiruchengode in Namakkal district has grown louder, with academicians making a case for it.Tiruchengode is a prominent taluk in Namakkal district and has witnessed a remarkable boom of private higher secondary schools. It also has eight government higher secondary schools and a government-aided one.The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department-run Tiruchengode Arthanareeswarar Arts and Science College is unable to meet the demand for higher education as it offers only four courses.Educationist K. Pandiyan said that since 1991, nine self-financing arts and science colleges have been established in and around Tiruchengode. These developments clearly demonstrate the strong and sustained demand for higher education in the area. Against this backdrop, it is both surprising and concerning that successive governments in the State have not taken meaningful steps to establish a government arts and science college in Tiruchengode, he said.Equally disappointing is the failure of successive political representatives and leaders to take up this long-standing demand in a serious and sustained manner. There was, however, an attempt by Periyar University, Salem, in 2016-17 to establish a constituent college at Tiruchengode.The episode raises a larger question: why has Tiruchengode been repeatedly denied a government arts and science college despite the region’s educational potential and growing demand? Mr. Pandiyan asked.The Association of University Teachers (AUT) Tamil Nadu vice-president M.S. Balamurugan said there is a perception that the strong political and social influence of private educational interests in the region has stood in the way of a government arts and science college coming to Tiruchengode.With the constituency now represented by Minister for Health K.G. Arunraj, a prominent Minister in the TVK-led government, time has come to break this long-standing deadlock. “After decades of waiting, the region deserves a government higher education institution that serves students from economically and socially disadvantaged sections and meets the growing educational needs of the area,” Mr. Balamurugan added.When contacted, Tiruchengode MLA and Minister for Health K.G. Arunraj said that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has allocated ₹15 crore for constructing permanent buildings for the Tiruchengode Arthanareeswarar Arts and Science College and that steps will be taken to bring in this college all the UG courses available in government colleges. Published - September 06, 2026 08:13 pm IST