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Guru Griho

From Pabna

'Pabna Technical School and College' Turns 120

Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu

'Pabna Technical School and College' is one of the oldest technical educational institutions of the northern region of Bangladesh. On December 24, 2009, an assembly of its past and present students celebrated its 120th founding anniversary through much festivity and fanfare.

On the day, thousands of students including the oldest and current students participated in a colorful rally brought out from the college campus. Pabna Deputy Commissioner Dr. AFM Monjur Kadir led the rally parade through the main streets of the district headquarter. Later, roundtable discussions and cultural programmes, including music and dance performance, were organized on campus. Pabna Deputy Commissioner was present as the chief guest throughout the day long programme.

The college was established in 1889. Bonomali Roy, a landlord of the region, had established a technical school in Pabna town on December 24 in 1889 called 'Eliot Bonomaly Technical School'. He had spent Tk. 27 thousand in establishing the educational institution.

The school was established on the occasion of the arrival of the then British Governor Sir Eliot in Pabna. Then Government had donated Tk. 50 thousand for the development of the school in 1913. During this time the district board had also donated Tk 38 thousand and took over management of the school in 1922.

The institution was turned into a government institution in 1922, and the name of the institution was changed to 'Pabna Technical School'. The Pakistan government started the Diploma Engineering course in the institution in 1961. After independence, the institution was renamed 'Pabna Vocational Training Institute'.

General Education and the Technical education courses were started simultaneously in the institution in 90s. The SSC vocational and HSC vocational course started in 1995. In 2003 the name of the institution was changed again to 'Pabna Technical School and College', official sources said.

There are currently 1100 students are studying in the institution. Of them, 300 are studying in the School section while 800 are studying in College section. There are a total of 54 teachers currently teaching in the institution.

The school has the capacity to cater to at least 1200 students. Most parents are not willing to give their children a technical education, and many seats are remaining vacant, said Md. Jakir Hossain, the chief instructor of the college.

These are 10 technical trades tought at the institution. They are Civil Drafting, Electronics, Computer Application, Electrical Workshop, Refrigerator and Air cooler, Automobile, Farm Machinery, Machinist, Wood Working and Welding.

“Pabna Technical School and College is leading the way in technical education among the students of the district. Through this institution, several hundred skilled resources are working throughout the country and abroad.” Md. Ayiub Ali, principal of the college said.

Though the institution is one of the oldest educational institutions in the district, it is not developing as it should. Infrastructure development is essential for expanding the educational facility. A project to develop the college infrastructure is being planned by the government, sources said.

In the founding anniversary programme the students and the guests stressed the need of technical education and urged the government to take proper initiatives for the development of the institution.

“With increasing demand of the skilled manpower around the world we have to produce more skilled manpower. Technical education is necessary for that. Government should take a more active interest in developing the 120 year old Pabna Technical School and college” speakers said on the occasion.