It was the ardent zeal for advancement of higher education that the people of Dhaniakhali to establish Sarat Centenary College, named after one of the greatest Bengali novelists, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, in 1976 as a Junior College with the Higher Secondary Course which was later upgraded into a Degree College in 1978 with all the three streams Arts, Science and Commerce being affiliated under the University of Burdwan. The college stands at the heart of Dhaniakhali. It is under grants-in-aid Scheme of the Government of West Bengal. The College campus extends over an area of 03 acres.
The college provides Honours in Bengali, Sanskrit, English, Political Science, Philosophy, History, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology and Accountancy. General courses offered by the college are Bengali, Sanskrit, Santali, English, Political Science, Philosophy, Education, History, Geography, Physical Education, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology and Commerce. Some vocational courses like Communicative English, Computer Basics, Tailoring-Knitting etc. have been introduced from the session 2015-2016. Moreover, a Women Study Centre is functioning with the task of awareness about Gender Biases.
Presently, a sufficient number of Associate Professors, Assistant professors, Government Approved Part-Time Teachers and Guest Lecturers are catering academic needs of all the three streams. Moreover one teacher is working on Government-Approved Whole-Time Teacher. The standard of education and academic results are good and encouraging. The students evaluate the teaching standard of the departments as per the university norms. A good number of teachers have national and international linkage through their academic activities. A sufficient number of academic support staff of the college, including part-time and contractual staff, are rendering their service.
The college regularly organizes seminars, inter-departmental talks, debates, quizzes and other academic ventures. The college has started remedial courses for the benefit of the -students both socially and academically backwards. The Principal and the Governing Body monitor all the developmental works.
Besides the main building, the college has a separate library building (Netaji Bhawan), which has about 21337 books and various journals. The Jagadish Chandra Bose Bhawan, Vidyasagar Bhawan, U.G.C. Building, have provided more classrooms to meet the growing demands. A new building for Students’ Union, Cheap Canteen and Boys’ Common Room is at the point of completion. The main building encompasses a good garden along with Ayruvedic Plants. The laboratories are relatively well-equipped. Microphone systems are available in Classrooms where it is necessary. Smart classroom infrastructure has been constructed with financial support from the Government of West Bengal. Construction under MPLADS has added extra classrooms to this college.
The college has a spacious playground and a pond surrounded by the shady green trees. The NSS adds much to the progress in the academic atmosphere of the college. It is worth mentioning that the NSS has already imprinted its valuable marks for the total development of the college. The Gymnasium has been opened up for the college students. A Yoga Center is also operative. More land is yet to be purchased. Moreover, the college has already approached the high authorities for introducing job-oriented new courses. Apart from academic development, the college is keen on the all-round development of the students. Regular counselling by the teachers is offered to the students for guidance towards an exact route for their establishment in multifarious segments of life. The college has already left its mark of success in different spheres. The 2nd cycle accreditation by NAAC has been completed in 2016.