Department of Collegiate Education was established in 1957 as an administrative authority of 13 Government Colleges in Kerala. Now there are 59 Arts and Science Colleges, 4 Music Colleges, 4 Training Colleges, 1 Physical Education College and 15 College Hostels under this Department. With the introduction of direct payment system to the staff of Aided Colleges in the year 1972 the responsibility of implementing this scheme is also vested with this Department. Now the service matters of around 20,000 aided college staff are being looked into by the Department. The Provident Fund Accounts of Private Aided College Teachers are also kept and maintained by the Department of Collegiate Education. The Department has also an increasingly important role in the developmental activities in the higher education sector utilizing Central and State funds under various schemes and also by the funds provided by the University Grants Commission.
The table below gives the number of institutions under the control of the Department.
| Educational Agency |
Arts & Science colleges |
Training Colleges |
Arabic Colleges |
Music Colleges |
Physical Education Colleges |
College Hostels |
Zonal Offices |
| Government | 66 | 4 | – | 4 | 1 | 15 | 5 |
| Aided | 191 | 17 | 11 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 257 | 21 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 5 |