Govt. Brennen College of Teacher Education, Thalassery

Government Brennen College is located in Dharmadam, Thalassery, in Kannur district, Kerala, and is affiliated to Kannur University. It originated from a free school established in 1862 by Edward Brennen, an English philanthropist and master attendant of Thalassery Port. The school was elevated to a II Grade College with F.A. Classes in 1890 under the University of Madras, became a first-grade college in 1947, and shifted to a new building at Dharmadam in 1958. In 2016, the University Grants Commission granted it special heritage status, recognizing it as more than 125 years old. In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025, the college was ranked in the 101–150 band among colleges in India. The campus spans 34.5 acres on a hillock near Thalassery, housing academic departments, administrative offices, a central library, hostels, staff quarters, and a playground. The Brennen Library holds around 21,600 books, including rare 19th-century Malayalam publications, and was the first in India to create an electronic catalogue in local script. The college has 21 departments across arts, science, and commerce, and counts several notable politicians, writers, and public figures among its alumni.