Chennai: The state will have four more govt arts and science colleges in rural areas in 2025-26, chief minister M K Stalin said here on Friday. The new colleges will be established at K V Kuppam in Vellore district, Thuraiyur in Trichy, Ulundurpet in Kallakurichi district, and Chengam in Tiruvannamalai district during the upcoming academic year, a release said.The four colleges will have a combined intake of 1,120 seats during the first year. This takes the total number of govt colleges in the state to 179. CM recently inaugurated 11 new govt arts and science colleges at Alandur, Panruti, Kunnoor, Natham, Vikravandi, Cheyyur, Manamadurai, Muthuppettai, Tiruvidaimarudhur, Perambalur, and Ottapidaram.“After opening new colleges, the govt received many requests to open colleges for rural students. Based on the demand, the CM ordered starting four more new colleges in 2025-26,” a release from the state govt said. With this, the DMK govt has opened 35 new govt arts and science colleges in the past four years.Professors said despite starting 35 new colleges, the state govt did not appoint a single faculty member in the past four years. Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) issued a notification in 2023 for recruiting 4,000 assistant professors for govt arts and science colleges through a competitive exam. However, the exam has been delayed, citing last-minute changes to the eligibility criteria and court cases filed by guest lecturers. The Tamil Nadu Govt Collegiate Teachers Association (TNGCTA) said there are only 5,000 permanent teachers employed in place of 15,000 teachers. “The govt will deploy permanent staff to the new colleges, which will affect teaching in existing colleges. The state govt should take efforts to fill all vacancies at the earliest,” said S Suresh, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Govt Collegiate Teachers’ Association (TNGCTA).He also highlighted that the govt reduced the number of sanctioned posts for the newly established colleges from 17 to 12. “To ensure quality education in all colleges, the number of posts should not be reduced. Further, the state govt should take steps to fill 86 principal posts in govt arts and science colleges,” Suresh added.