Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Mar 12: The golden jubilee celebrations of the St Aloysius Evening College came to a grand close with a splendid event at the College premises here on Saturday March 12.
Minister of higher education T B Jayachandra was chief guest of the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Jayachandra said, "This College was started 50 years ago at a time when people were deprived of education due to economic backwardness. People got an opportunity to continue their education through this college. Fifty years is not a small period of time. If you contemplate, you will see that it is really astonishing. The thought behind establishing this institution and its committment towards providing education is really commendable. It is a very disciplined College. Those who have studied in this Evening College have achieved rank and position in society."
He also lauded the management and staff who have worked tirelessly for the development of the College.
MLA J R Lobo said, "Many people who were deprived of education due to financial problems have been provided opportunity to pursue their studies due to this College. Those who have obtained education from this instituttion have reached good position in society and had a bright future. This is the contribution of the Christian missionaries to the field of education.
"About 90 percent of the older generation in the city passed out from St Aloysius or St Agnes colleges, as there were no other colleges during those days in the city. Not only people in the city, but even those from variuos parts of Karnataka and Kerala have obtained education from these these institutes. Be it the Roman Catholic missionaries or the Basel Mission, they have immensely contribute to the field of education. St Aloysius Evening College provides education to those who are economically backward and brings them to the mainstream. We should appreciate the contribution of this Evening College to society," he said.
He also requested the higher education minister to start a government engineering college in the city. "There are many students who have done diploma in engineering, and if such a government college comes up, they can do their engineering. The college can later be converted into an evening engineering college," Lobo suggested.
Provincial of Karnataka Jesuit province Fr Dr Stanislaus J D'Souza who presided over the function, T B Jayachandra, J R Lobo, St Aloysius Institutions rector Fr Denzil Lobo, administrator Fr Michael John, Fr Walter Andrade, former principals Leena Fernandes and Fr Vincent Pinto were honoured on the occasion.
'Suvarna Sandhya' a souvenir marking the golden jubilee of the College was launched by minister Jayachandra.
Capt Ganesh Karnik, College principal Dr Manohar Serrao, secretary of golden jubilee celebration committee Dr Donald Lobo, president of students' council Laren D'Souza and others were present.