One of the oldest colleges in the country, Saraswoti Multiple Campus (SMC), affiliated with Tribhuvan University, celebrated its 67th anniversary on Thursday at its Thamel-based college premises.

During the event, various speakers emphasised the need for affordable higher education in the country, a time when higher education is becoming increasingly expensive.

The state-owned prestigious College located at the heart of the Capital city offers 14 different faculties, including Journalism, and has enrolled more than 9,000 students.

For the first time in the recent history of Tribhuvan University, the SMC has a campus chief who was appointed on a merit basis instead of the set tradition of appointing through political lineage. Dr Thakur Prasad Wagle, who was appointed the Campus Chief recently, said unnecessary politicisation in government-run colleges has ruined their academic excellence.

“I am constantly working to increase the number of subjects and shifts while also focusing on the physical infrastructure for the students,” Wagle said while addressing the annual function.

On behalf of all the teachers, lecturer Balkrishna Sharma said all the teachers, employees, and students must rise above the political sphere to ensure academic excellence in the college.

Through his poetry, Dr Achyut Adhikari, lecturer of History, had pointed out all the difficulties the historic Campus is currently going through due to over-politicisation and demanded a drastic change.

During the function, student leaders Rajesh Babu Bagale, chairperson of All Nepal Independent Students Union-Revolutionary, Lokmani Joshi, chairperson of All Nepal Free Students Union, and Mandip Singh Thakuri, president of Nepal Students Union, highlighted the need of creating peaceful environment for the students in the college.

Campus Chief Dr Wagle felicitated the students scoring the highest marks in their respective subjects. During the programme, students, including Laxmi Neupane and Prakriti Pariyar, showcased their dance performances while other students also presented their talents.

Before the celebration, the college had organised a sports week during which students participated in various games, including football, basketball, table tennis, volleyball, chess, quiz, essay writing, and tug-of-war, among others.

Campus Chief Dr Wagle also distributed medals to all those students winning the competitions held during the sports week.