The history of T.M Jacob Memorial Government College, Manimalakunnu is the ever-inspiring story of the daring initiatives of the Rural Education Society (RES- NO.ER-332/76), a charitable trust founded by the agrarian people in the Thirumaradi Panchayat for satisfying their thirst for higher education. The year 1981 witnessed the starting of a Government College at Manimalakunnu, a result of the commendable work of late Sri. K.C. Zacharia, Ex. MLA (President), Sri. M. J. Jacob Muttappallil (Secretary), and Sri. Thomas Mathai Pallippattu (treasurer), the then office bearers. Originally affiliated to the University of Kerala, this college now stands affiliated to the MGU, Kottayam.
The College was formally inaugurated by late Sri, Baby John, Hon’ble Minister for Education, on September 29, 1981, at a scintillating public function presided over by Sri. P.C Chacko, the then local MLA and Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Government of Kerala. Classes were temporarily started in the Parish Hall of St. John’s Catholic Church, Vadakara. On 1 June 1983, the college was shifted to the newly constructed building at Manimalakunnu. On 13 March 1984, the required extent of land along with the building was officially handed over to the Government on behalf of the society by Sri. T.M Jacob, Hon’ble Minister for Education in a ceremony, presided over by the local MLA, Sri. Benny Bahanan.
In 2012, with the demise of Sri T.M Jacob, in the memory of its great founder, the college was renamed as T.M Jacob Memorial Government College, Manimalakunnu.
Within a very short span of time, the college became a centre for higher learning catering to the needs of the poor and backward students; most of them belonging to SC, ST, and minority categories in the eastern part of Ernakulam District. The College, since its inception, stands as a nucleus for disseminating knowledge and as a center for social and cultural transformation of the agrarian people in the Piravom-Koothattukulam area.
Now the College has a statewide reputation evidenced by the increasing number of students from urban areas of the district and from various parts of the state seeking admission to our programmes. Their number as a proportion increased tremendously in recent years.
Now the college offers two postgraduate and six undergraduate programmes. The college has the distinction of being one of the few state-owned Arts and Science colleges in central Kerala using ICT techniques for augmenting teaching-learning processes.
Even though the rural setting in which the college stands has naturally its disadvantages, it appears to be a major strength also because it is the very factor that amply justifies its existence. The institution acts as a beacon of hope for education and inspiration for a large section of the poor and underprivileged people around the neighbouring villages of Thirumarady, Mannathoor, Koothattukulam, Palakuzha, Pampakuda, Piravom, Mulanthuruthy and Ramamangalam, all remote villages with no other commendable facility for higher learning.