Puttur Education Society was founded on 28th November 1915. The society has been in the forefront in the field of Education in the southern part of the coastal district of South Kanara for the past ninety years. The Society founded by great visionaries like Molahalli Shiva Rao, Baindoor Rama Rao, Dramastala Manjjyya Hegde, Rao Bahadur Raghunatha Rao, and a host of others succeeded in establishing the first Secondary school in 1916 which is now well known as Govt. Pre University College, Kombettu, Puttur. The stalwarts who became members included Baindoor Prabhakar Rao, the leading light of the Co-operative movement in South Kanara, Jnanapeeta award winner Dr. Kota Shivarama Karanth and Sri K. Rama Bhat, leading lawyer, Ex-M.L.A and also a social activist. The establishment of Vivekananda College of Arts, Science and Commerce in the year 1965 was a milestone in the history of the Society. Named after the great Saint, Swami Vivekananda, the College has been striving very hard to inculcate in the students a sense of pride in the great heritage of the country, and patriotism. The College also provides free mid-day meals to the economically poor students most of them come from backward areas of the district. All the institutions established by PES, irrespective of its nature and size have become centres of excellence. PES aims at proper shaping of character and inculcating high sense of discipline among the staff and students. The functioning of the PES is totally transparent with a number of bodies with representatives elected from among its members at various levels on management. As most of the institutions do not come under the Grant in Aid Scheme, PES solicits generous donations from the public, well wishers, philanthropists, alumni, parents and others.