St. Xavier's College of Education, Tirunelveli was established in 1950 as St. Xavier's Teachers' Training College at St. Xavier's (Autonomous) College Campus by Rev. Fr. Bonhoure S.J. as their first Principal.

St. Xavier's College of Education is one of the three educational Institutions owned by the Society of St. Francis Xavier, a body registered under the Societies Registration Act.

The College has been able to establish their mark of excellence on the educational map of India by hard and strenuous efforts of Rev. Fathers, Rev. Brothers and lay collaborators.

St.Xavier's College of Education envisages a new society based on brotherhood, social justice and dignity of the downtrodden which would be possible on earth only by future citizen of India.

This in turn presupposes the presence of potential and committed teachers who would form and mould the little ones of country.