Friendship College Boys: 55 years old and still going strong

Founded in 1961, Friendship College Boys has built a strong reputation over the years not only for providing quality education but also for providing adapted facilities in line with the fast changing world. On June 2, the college marked its 55th Anniversary through an inaugural ceremony of its new gymnasium. Founded by Ramchurn Coomar Bachwa in 1961, the Friendship College Boys celebrated its 55th anniversary on June 2. The grand ceremony saw the presence of the Minister of Education, Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun and the Minister of Industry, Ashit Kumar Gungah. To mark its anniversary, the college inaugurated its brand new gymnasium. The event was also marked by cultural programmes presented by students and the planting of Ashoka Tree (in the context of the Inauguration & World Environment Day). Other activities comprised of inter class football tournament, essay & quiz competition and a mural fresco competition. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"19630","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-33870","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"600","height":"501","alt":"55th Anniversary"}}]] Harris Bachwa, manager of the college since 2005, seized the occasion to share his message to his students. “Practice at least one form of physical activity regularly to sustain good health, which will enable you to strive to succeed in life.” The manager called upon his staff to continue in showing “perseverance and devotion in their work as the Management has and will always improve and assure the best of services to the neighbouring community.” Among his major upcoming projects, Mr Bachwa lists the adaptation of Friendship College to the challenges posed by the Nine Year Continuous Schooling project.

History of Friendship College

Ramchurn Coomar Bachwa founded Friendship College together with few friends in 1961. He rented a building at Goodlands and started with only 100 students. Despite his friends backing out from the project due to financial problems, R.C. Bachwa persevered. As the inhabitants of Goodlands showed gradual interest into sending their children to school, the college’s student population increased. It is in 1968 that the decision to split the college into the Boys and Girls departments was taken. Mr Vencatasamy was entrusted the responsibility to manage the Girls Department while Mr R.C. Bachwa would run the Boys Department. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"19631","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-33871 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"396","height":"264","alt":"55th-Anniversary"}}]] Throughout the years, the college population continued to grow and new building facilities were required to welcome students and there was need for additional staff. In 1982, two acres of land at Telegu Temple Rd, Goodlands, were purchased for the construction of a brand new building. From 1991 to 1996, phase three construction of additional 10,000 sq ft to house specialized rooms and labs (comprising Library, audio visual room, art room, computer room, design and communication room, chemistry, physics and biology labs, etc.) was launched. In year 2000, an additional floor to provide space to HSC and Pre-Voc classes was constructed. Friendship College is famous for its performance in sports activities in the north, as it won most regional football and volleyball tournaments organized by District Council North and later by MSSSA. The college has shown good performances at both SC and HSC levels. The school has produced prominent citizens who now occupy important positions both in Mauritius and abroad. The college now proudly counts 700 students, 51 teaching staff and 23 non-teaching staff.