Shillong, Oct 11: Meghalaya’s oldest college, St Edmund’s College, is all set to celebrate its centenary year starting November 5. The year-long ‘100 years of excellence’ celebration includes activities like seminars, book fair, inter college games, musical performance and other programmes.

St Edmund’s College principal Dr Sylvanus Lamare on Tuesday said the college was the only college for many years to have been nominated the STAR college programme by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. “Today, there are only two colleges in India under the programme, one is St Edmund’s and the other Lakhimpur College in Assam,” he said.

With a total of 20 Under Graduate departments and 1 Post Graduate department, the strength of the college till date is at 2800 students, along with 110 teaching staff and 40 non-teaching staff.

Today, the college boast of having been known far and wide especially in rural areas through its department of BA and MA in Social Work. “Every Friday, close to 200 students go to different directions in the state trying to assist people through social awareness by holding different activities in the villages. This is the major contribution that St. Edmund’s has done to the society,” he mentioned.

The management has also urged the alumni of the college to register and check the college website and social media handles for updates and necessary information relating to the activities of the college.

Secretary, Bro. Simon Coelho appreciated the shoulders on which the college stands. He also said that without the efforts of the previous and current principal, teachers, parents and students, who are making the college proud, the college would not have reached such a milestone.

He also stressed on how they are concerned at the state of how mathematics has been taught in schools as compared to colleges. “Mathematical department for the last few years has been the most sought after department, not just the boys but girls as well. Some of them coming from rural backgrounds yet at the same time have really done us proud as they have done very well,” he said.

Vice Principal Professor Monotosh Chakravarty said they are going to celebrate the centenary celebration themselves – as human beings, as Edmundians, as teachers as students, parents, and as each and every stakeholder of the future.