By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 1: Pine Mount School, one of Meghalaya’s most prestigious institutes, kicked off its year-long quasquicentennial with a grand event here on Friday.
Founded as a primary school under the leadership of Headmistress Miss Miles, the institute has admission records dating back to 1900. However, much of its earlier documentation was lost in the devastating earthquake of June 12, 1897, which also destroyed the All Saints Church.
Today, the school has around 1,830 students, offering education from Kindergarten to Class XII.
Since India’s Independence, it has remained inclusive, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds. The school attained Secondary School status in March 1926 and was later upgraded to Higher Secondary level in 1992.
The year-long quasquicentennial celebrations were formally inaugurated in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma, and Adviser to the Education Department HM Shangpliang, along with teachers, students, alumni, and parents.
In his address, the deputy chief minister praised the school for its consistent excellence, noting its recent ranking of 23rd among the top 800 schools in the country.
“I would like to congratulate everyone associated with Pine Mount School for elevating the image of our state,” said Tynsong.
He noted that Pine Mount remains one of the few government-run educational institutions in the region that has consistently upheld high academic and institutional standards over the decades.
“In most cases, government institutions tend to fall behind, but Pine Mount has defied that trend,” he added.
On the other hand, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah, who is an alumna of the school, also shared her thoughts on the occasion.
“It’s always a joy to return to Pine Mount and relive cherished memories. Being part of the school’s 125th anniversary is a special honour. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this momentous occasion,” she said.