Govt Arts College at Chennai's Nandanam, is now co-ed

CHENNAI: One of the oldest men's colleges in the city, Govt Arts College at Nandanam has now been converted into a co-educational institute by the higher education department.
A Nithya Sri and V Yamuna were the first few girl students to get admission to BCom course in the college on Monday. After the admission counselling, 120 girl students enrolled in various courses such as BCom, BBA, BSc computer science and BSc chemistry on the first day.
Yamuna secured 397 out of 400 marks in Class XII. "I have no fear to join the first batch in the erstwhile men's college. I have studied in co-ed in higher secondary. I am coming from Kundrathur and the admission will help me travel less ," Yamuna said.
However, hostel facilities for girls are missing. "Our daughter wanted to study in a city college. We have got a seat here. Without hostel facilities, it is difficult to accept the seat," Shankar, a farmer from Tindivanam, said.
Till a few years ago, the college was infamous for clashes between student groups, strikes and violence.
"We have built a brand-new restroom for girls and plan to enrol at least five girls in a class in UG programmes," said C Jothi Venkateswaran, principal of the college.
"Various measures including campus placements, encouragement for literary and sports activities, skill training under 'Naan Mudhalvan' scheme have made the college free of student strikes last year," he said.
The college has 64 women faculty.
"We will enrol girls only in the first shift. The move to induct girls will bring more discipline as boys tend to behave better in the presence of girls," Jothi Venkateswaran said.