St. Thomas College of Teacher Education Pala (STCTE), established in 1957, has accrued almost seven decades of esteemed service and a legacy in the field of Teacher Education, producing many aspiring teachers to enlighten young minds. The college is situated in the semi-urban area at Pala in Kerala, catering to the needs of teacher trainees from diverse parts of the State.
The college is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Palai. It is managed by St. Thomas College of Teacher Education Pala Education Trust and is affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam. Our college provides students with immense opportunities that enable them to strengthen their ethics, values, and personality. This attribute is analogous to ‘fearlessness and truthfulness’, the qualities of St. Thomas, our Patron Saint.
St.Thomas – The Apostle
The college upholds its dignity and legacy by nurturing the society with ‘perfectly trained professional teachers’. This idea was conceived and systematized by the then Bishop of the Diocese of Palai, His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Sebastian Vayalil, the founder and first patron of our institution.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Sebastian Vayalil
This eminence was later succeeded by His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Pallikaparambil, who was the patron from 1981-2004.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Pallikaparambil
The illustrious legacy of our college was later heightened by the present patron, His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kallarangatt (Bishop, Eparchy of Palai) from 2004, adhering to the needs of the society by fostering the potentialities of teacher trainees.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kallarangatt
Fr. Joseph Kaniyodickal (Syncellus) is the manager of our college. He has been guiding the teachers and students to maximise their professional orientations, moralistic temperament, and empathetic concerns.
Msgr. Fr. Joseph Kaniyodickal
The college holds great significance in the milieu of ‘Teacher Education’ due to the enduring support of the glorious line of academic administrators who incorporated intellect with astuteness: Late Prof. A.O. Joseph (1957 – 1961), Late Rev. Fr. Joseph, Thannippara (1961 – 1967), Late. Rev. Fr. N. A. Thomas, Nangachiveettil (1967 – 1970), Late. Rev. Dr. Joseph Nadayath (1970 – 1980), Rev. Sr. K.A.Rosakutty (1980 – 1991), Rev. Fr. Alex Kozhikott (1991- 1994), Late. Prof. Austin Michael (1994 – 1996), Prof. Chandy Zacharias (1996 – 1999), Prof. N. J. Joseph (1999 – 2004), Rev. Dr. Sr. P. T. Mary (2004 -2009), Prof. Jose P. Mattam (2009 – 2015), Dr. Sr. Celene Joseph (2015 – 2020), Dr. Sr. Beenamma Mathew (2020 April- Nov.), Dr. T.C. Thankachan (2020 Dec.- 2022 May). Dr. Sr. Beenamma Mathew was appointed as the Principal in June 2022, and the college is striding to magnificence under her zestful and progressive leadership.
The college received a 4-star accreditation from NAAC in the year 2000. It is the first Teacher Education Institution in the State of Kerala to get reaccreditation from NAAC with an A+ grade (second cycle – 2007) and an institutional score of 92. The institution received reaccreditation with an A grade (third cycle – 2014, scoring 3.32) from NAAC. The College once again received reaccreditation with an A+ grade (fourth cycle – 2025, with a score of 3.35). The college participated in the Kerala Institutional Ranking Framework (KIRF) and secured 6th rank among the teacher education institutions in Kerala for the years 2024 and 2025.
The institution was conferred minority status by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions in 2010. Our college is recognised by the UGC, 2(f) 12(B), NCTE (1997) and is quite uncompromising in providing the students with the best amenities and offers programmes: B. Ed., M.Ed., D. El. Ed., and Ph.D. in Education. The college, being a Research Centre in Education under Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam, instigates a research-oriented atmosphere among its faculty and students.
St. Thomas College of Teacher Education Pala is the arena of scholarly professors and teachers. Along with this, the college has also moulded entrepreneurs, public/private employees, officers in various sections at M. G. University Kottayam, and officers in the Indian Services.
The college proceeds to academic excellence as a result of the dedication and functional expertise of our teachers and administrative staff. All the teachers at STCTE hold Ph.D., and they are frequently invited as resource persons in academic and socially committed programmes. The scholastic and co-scholastic achievements of the students are also excellent. Skill-based training and efficient internships offer quality to students, and this in turn makes them employable.
The college extends its plentiful resources and services to ascertain harmonious development of all those who are associated with it. Thus, our college is the epitome of ‘quality knowledge’ and ‘progressive development’, ensured through cordial cultural exchanges.
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