Government College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram has a remarkable history starting from the early years of 20th Century.  This Mother Teacher Education Institution in Kerala, the second in the field of Teacher Education in Madras Province, next to Training College at Saidapet, was established in 1895 as a Normal School on the implementation of the recommendations of Hunter Commission Report of 1882 for improving the quality of education through improving Teacher Effectiveness.

The Normal School was elevated to the status of a Training College in 1911 as   His Highness The Maharajas Training College and was affiliated to Madras University.  The college imparted training for both Graduate and Under Graduate Teachers of erstwhile Travancore.  Those who completed the teacher training course successfully were honoured with a Licentiate of Teaching (LT) degree.

 The training college in Trivandrum was  established at par with international standards with adequate academic and administrative facilities.  The original building was constructed in the shape of English letter ‘T’ with the college classes in the front row and the experimental school at the tail end.  Each and every room in the building was designed keeping in view the requirements of different subjects.

The institution originally affiliated to Madras University was later transferred to Travancore University in 1937, when it was constituted by the promulgamation of Maharaja of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balaramavarma.  Subsequently there was a change in the name of the degree from L T to B T (Bachelor of Training).  Later, following the All India pattern, the nomenclature was changed to  B. Ed (Bachelor of Education).

The Silver Jubilee of the College was celebrated in 1937 and a Souvenir was published in this connection.  When the  Kerala University Act, Act 14 of 1957 was brought into force, University of Travancore was renamed as University of Kerala.  In 1956-57 the government sanctioned the M Ed Course in the college, which was later transformed to Department of Education under Kerala University.

The college celebrated its Platinum Jubilee in 1986.  In 1994, the college was upgraded to the status of College of Teacher Education as per G O (Rt) No. 1788/94/H Edn dt. 29-11-1994 and Government of India  approved the action of the state government vide their letter No. F-49-9/93 TE Dated. 21-9-1994.  This act was in continuation of the efforts of NPE 1986, and the college was entrusted with the dual responsibility of providing academic resource support to Secondary Education in the region, and acting as a Model College of Teacher Education.  During  the period 1994-2002, the college organized in-service courses for High School Teachers in the region.  Staff Quarters, Hostels for men and women, a new block for class rooms were also constructed during 2000-01, as a part of the new scheme , helping the college to acquire the status of a Residential Campus.

Government of Kerala sanctioned the  M Ed course during 1998-99 with an annual intake of 6 students, on a condition that the existing faculty and resources only will be utilized for the course without causing any financial commitment to the government.  Since 1998-99 the M Ed course is being run smoothly.

At present the college is having a sanctioned strength of 200 seats for B Ed in 10 optionals and 6 seats for M Ed.  The college was elevated to the status of            Research Centre in Education by  University of Kerala in December 2006  as  per  Order  No. AC. E/A2-39613/03 dated 11/01/2006. Five research scholars for Doctoral Research and one for Postdoctoral research have joined the institution.  Nine more scholars have applied for Ph D registration in the centre.  
    
The college is easily accessible as it is situated in the heart of the capital city very near (1 Km) the Railway Station and Central Bus Station. The college is situated in an educational complex, surrounded by Government Arts College, Government Model LPS, Department of Education University of Kerala, Kerala Institute for Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), Government Model Boys High and Higher Secondary Schools.

Admissions to various courses are made on the basis of Academic Merit and Performance in Entrance Examination.  Rules, regulations and reservation policies are strictly followed in admissions. Current Academic year  is regulated from November 2007 to October 2008.

The college maintains a good academic atmosphere with good results in the University Examinations.  The college bagged the Second Rank in 2004-05 and First Rank during 2006-07 for B Ed. & First Rank in 2005-06 and Second and Third ranks during 2006-07 for M Ed. in the University Examinations. There were many Distinctions also. The Principal and Faculty Members extend their resource support to Extension as well as Consultancy services.  The Principal and Faculty are members in many Governing and Academic Bodies of Universities in Kerala, SCERT, DIET, VHSE and Professional Organizations.

Elevating to the status of ‘Centre of Excellence in Education’ is the vision of the college. The institution has an infrastructure consisting of 37857 sq ft accommodation in an educational complex in a land area 6.87 acres. Separate and sufficient accommodation is provided for students, teachers, research scholars and administrative staff.  Also the institution maintains well equipped laboratories and library.  The academic faculty include Principal and fifteen Faculty Members in different subjects, of them three are Research Guides.

The college has undertaken a number of academic programmes during the past academic years for the benefit of student community, faculty and the society.  They include Seminars, Workshops, Conferences, Publication, Social work, Community and Extension Activities.  Academic Calendar for each year is prepared and approved by IQAC.  Programmes are monitored, reviewed and corrective measures undertaken under the dynamic leadership of the Principal and the sincere cooperation of the Faculty Members.

A Central Team constituted by NCTE visited the College during April 2006 as part of the Review of Implementation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Teacher Education in Kerala  State made the following observations in their report.