Volume 2 Issue 29 | March 15, 2008 |



  
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Guru Griho

From Mymensingh

Muslim High School: Imparting Islamic Education



Muslim High School started imparting Islamic education in the days of the British rule. After losing the battle in Palasi, Muslims were subjected to oppression by the British. The Muslim Community was deprived of opportunities. This condition continued for the decades. Some generous Muslim leaders and social workers came forward with the initiative to educate the young Muslim generation. The Muslim High School was the result of such a move.

First it was established as the Muslim Polytechnic High School in 1943 with a hostel facility. Some generous people who worked behind establishing the school were the then Governor of East Bengal Moneem Khan, Giasuddin Khan Pathan, Moazzem Hossain Khan, Altaf Uddin Chowdhury, Fakruddin Ahmed and Advocate Hashim Uddin Ahmed. After the War of Liberation in 1971, the school was renamed Muslim High School.

The school produced many scholars who served the nation in various ways including in education and politics. The school has no actual record of the successful sons of the school. Some names are ex-Minister MA Mannan, Ex-MP Keramat Ali Talukder, eminent journalist of Mymensingh Noor Uddin, Ex-MP Amanullah Chowdhury, Dr. Golam Maula now in Pakistan, President of Govt. Mominunnesa College Alhaj Md. Abdul Hannan, Assistant Secretary Shafiqul Islam, eminent businessmen of the town Md. Abdul Bari and Abdur Razzaq. The passing rate in SSC level was 100 percent in 1946 and it was 97 percent in 1947, according to old records of the school. The school showed great performances soon after its starting in 1943. Two students made board standings in 1949 and another in 1962.

M Majedul Hoque (1943), Abdul Hoque (1943), MA Hakim (1944-1946), Khorshid Uddin Ahmed (1946-1965), Muklesh Uddin Ahmed (In-charge, 1965-1966), MA Wadud (1966-1968), Nazam Uddin Bhuiyan (1969-1980), Dewan MA Mannan (1982-1983), MM Waliullah (1983-2006) and Aftab Uddin Mollah, present headmaster, all served as head of the school.

Now the school runs with three groups science, arts and commerce. There are some 500 students in the school but the school is gripped with some problems which should be addressed immediately for the best interest of the school. The school has a shortage of teachers and staff. The school has only 10 teachers and seven posts including the post of English teacher which are lying vacant for long. Due to the English teacher shortage, a major subject for all groups, the school is facing serious problems.

Shortage of staff is another big problem. The school has only four fourth class employees and all the posts for third class employees are vacant creating problems. A library was established since the starting of the school in 1943. Many rare books were collected for the library of the school. The number of the books available in the library is reasonable. Due to financial problems, the school authorities could not buy the necessary books for the library. There are a mere 1000 books in the library and no place for the students to do library work.

“We have received no government funding in the last 10 years”, said Aftab Uddin Mollah adding, “due to financial crises we cannot give the students their due. Now the school has a hostel for 100 students both male and female. Rain water leaks through the roof of a portion of the old building that hampers classes in the rainy season.”

The Headmaster of the school also said that the school had no playground. The little space that they do have in front of the school is not a suitable for arrangement for sports and can only be used for cultural functions. During the rainy season the school ground is flooded by rainfall creating disturbance for the students and teachers.

Alhaj Reazuddin Ahmed, a retired government employee and an alumnus of Muslim High School, recalled the sweet memories of his school days told this writer that in the Pakistan regime this school had a good reputation. Hailing from Gobindapur in Sadar Upazila, Reazuddin Ahmed, also an eminent social worker, said that schools like this which had done a lot for the nation when the number of educational institutions was very low in the district level should be maintained and improved.

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