Manipal: The Academy of General Education (AGE) founded in 1942 with a vision to take education to the doorsteps of the people in and around Udupi, is all set to celebrate its Platinum Jubilee this year.

The yearlong celebration wills kickstart on Thursday. Governor of Nagaland P B Acharya, who is also the first batch student of MGM College, Udupi, will inaugurate the celebrations.

Speaking about the celebration, Dr H S Ballal, president, AGE and pro- chancellor, MAHE, said that a ten-minute video on AGE produced by the School of Communication, Manipal, will be screened and senior officials of AGE would be felicitated. He said, “AGE is the mother of all educational institutions founded by Dr TMA Pai”.

Giving information about some of the major projects proposed during the year, Ballal said: A new block of Madhava Krupa School for pre-primary and primary classes is nearing completion.

“A convention centre at Udupi similar to the one in Mangaluru is also planned at a cost of Rs 20-25 crores. Dr TMA Pai Foundation chairman Mohandas Pai will contribute Rs two crore for the purpose,” Dr Ballal said.

Dr H Vinod Bhat, vice chancellor, MAHE, Ashok Pai, secretary, Dr TMA Pai Foundation, H Shantaram, administrative officer, AGE and GK Prabhu, pro-VC, MAHE spoke.