One in every 10 students at Loyola College, which started as a boys-only institution 100 years ago, is now a woman. This co-ed trend Loyola began with UG programmes in 2022, has spread to other men’s colleges. The 184-year-old Pachaiyappa’s College and the 75-year-old New College have opened their gates to women this academic year.Meet Sanjana D, a Class XII topper, who could not get admission for her favourite course, BCom accounting and finance, in any of the city’s women’s colleges in 2024. She made a bold call. She enrolled herself as the first girl student at the Govt Arts College in Nandanam, which opened its UG programmes for girls in 2024.Some of her professors had discouraged her. But now, in her third year, Sanjana, who continues to top the class, says the boys are well-behaved, and parents have stopped worrying. This year, 300 of the total 1,000 students enrolled in the college are girls.Poor admissions in arts and science courses, the drive to be more inclusive, and girls’ interest in specific courses are forcing men’s colleges to open their UG programmes to women. They are also creating exclusive spaces for cultural and sports activities on campus. More girls are open to joining these former men’s colleges, as securing admission to women’s colleges has become tougher; the men’s colleges offer better connectivity and are within city limits.Jenitha Sowbarnica, a second-year student of BSc advanced zoology and biotechnology at Loyola, said the exclusive women’s common room helped her make friends in a college that still has 90% male students.New College opened its PG courses for women this year. “We have invited applications from women. A final call on UG courses will be taken after consulting our trust,” said Nazar Mohamed, secretary, The Muslim Educational Association of Southern India.Pachaiyappa’s has enrolled more than 30 girls this year. “We wanted to be inclusive and have a better academic atmosphere,” said Baby Gulnaz, principal of the college. The college already has women doing PG programmes and PhDs.Academics is only half the story. Kiruthika Ramadoss, a PG student from advanced zoology and biotechnology, is a member of L-Queens, an exclusive dance troupe for women at Loyola. “Loyola Dreams, an exclusive men’s dance troupe, is famous in city college culturals. At a recent event, when they announced our team’s name at a women’s college, the students were surprised. This year, we hope to win several trophies,” she said.The college also broke glass ceilings when women came together to form beach volleyball and basketball teams. “We have started enrolling state-level and national-level athletes in our college. We plan to have an exclusive hockey and volleyball team,” said Maria, assistant physical education director (girls) at the college.Nandanam college is installing CCTV cameras, separate toilet facilities, and a new NCC wing for women students. “We have also applied for a third NCC wing (air force). A separate women’s hostel will further increase women’s enrolment,” said D Thangarajan, principal of the college.
