Schools-The Foundation Builders

Sunshine Grammar School and College

The morning of 14th January 1985 brought rays of smile and radiance for the small but ambitious starting of Sunshine Grammar School. Thus began a continuous process of progress and progression for the city of Chittagong. 40 students, five teachers and three staff in total stood for the assembly as the Sunshiners read the School Prayer, sang the National Anthem and wished their teachers with broad smiles on their faces. The city of Chittagong was blessed with the option of offering an international standard of education and examination for the first time in her history after the War of Liberation in 1971 the Ordinary level (O' level) examinations. Within a couple of months the number of attendance in the register reached 108 and there were students in all classes and three students preparing for taking O'level examination in May'1997and Jhilam obtained 7 As paving the path for all students to be ambitious. The city of Chittagong sparkled as a totally new, enlightnened and highly developed foreign (British) curriculum reached the doors of the city with Sunshiner Jhilam Iqbal's mind blowing result as a bonus.

Within months students were moved from tiny class rooms to a specious two storied building. The atmosphere vibrated with joy amongst the teachers, cheerful students and other members of the School. Buildings were annexed, computing and science labs were set.

Growing leadership qualities among students being one of the major criteria of the School, the students got to be trained in running Sunshine Charity Services, Sunshine Book Club, Sunshine Debate Club, Sunshine Film Society, Sunshine Village, Wall Magazine and a variety of clubs and societies. A free school for 27 destitute children was set up in the staff quarters of the School building. Debates began to be enjoyed and the School began to win the champion trophies in the city. Along with music, dance began to bring gold medals for many.

Amongst the many distinctions earned in extra curricular activities few names have brought in laurels not only to Sunshine Grammar School but to the country. Prema Das Gupta is a dance prodigy who not only earned national fame but was also invited by organizations in Europe and America. Another acclaimed dance talent of Sunshine is Tanzila Majumdar Drishti who attained a number of National and International awards. She is also a good actress and won laurels in this field too. Sunshiner Tasnim Subah is another dance talent who won various prizes in both National and International competitions. She was also awarded by National Television and National Shishu Academy. Another cultural genius Afrida Kaisari received gold medal in the 'National Gold Medal' music competition organized by Dhruba Porishod Bangladesh. She also won some other acclamation from various organizations.

Sunshiner Mayesha Tarannum is a flair in art. She represented Bangladesh in an International Art Competition held in Egypt where students from all over the world participated and we are proud that Mayesha Tarannum achived Silver Medal. Mehweish Islam, the achiever of highest marks in O'Level English, won the 1st position in an essay competition arranged by the Indian High Commission.

After achieving academic excellence ex-sunshiners are now studying in various world famous universities. In the UK, Sunshiners are presently graduates or students of Imperial College London (ICU), University College London (UCL), School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London School of Economics (LSE), Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL), Kings College London (KCL), Warwick University and many more. In the USA Sunshiners are found in MIT and Harvard, National University of Singapore (NUS) in Singapore and many other parts of the world. Within home Sunshiners have been successful in joining BUET, IBA, different engineering and medical colleges, etc. Shahed Al-Wahed Bin Islam and Mehtab Ghazi Rahman are now just completing medicine in Kings College London and Barts of London (Queen Mary) respectively. While many others are perusing medicine in various other parts of the world. Abdullah and Maksuda Lillah the achiever of 10 As are studying abroad. The twin prodigy Yasir bin Baqui and Yamin bin Baqui are now studying aerospace in world's number one university, Harvard University, Boston, USA. Marzuk Sultan and Syeda Mansur Irene achieved scholarship from the Government of Singapore and studying in Singapore National University on 75% scholarship.

Shihab bin Zamee won 100% scholarship from Mackware University, Sydney. These are glimpses of Sunshine achievement. While the stars of Sunshine are many in number and here it's not possible to cover everyone's achievement.

Apart from O Level and A Level education Sunshine also offer education in National Curriculum leading to SSC and HSC. Previous year Sunshine achieved 100% success in SSC.

Sunshine Grammar School & College contributed a great deal in the overall development of education, especially English Medium education in Chittagong. It is for the personal initiative of Sunshine Principal Safia Ghazi Rahman that British Council established Examination Centre in Chittagong which saves the students from the hazards of travelling all the way to Dhaka to sit for their O/A level exams. Sunshine Grammar School and College is also a pioneer in introducing A Level as well as HSC in National Curriculum. Sunshine provides its students of science with excellent lab facilities. Science Laboratories of Sunshine were selected by Edexcel as exam centre for 5 years. Eleven books, written by the Principal have been published and used widely all around the country. Some of the productions are 'Our Earth and Bangladesh', 'The Mughal History', 'My Grammar Book', 'Enjoy Yourself', 'My Reading Book', etc.

To encourage outstanding students for further study, Masi Ghazi Scholarship is awarded to students with 100% and 50% weaver in school and admission fees.

Commitment to country and community is the utmost priority for Sunshine. A number of enterprise is taken to support the community. Sunshine Free Friday Clinic is funded for destitute people as a community service to participate in maintaining social harmony.

Sunshine Village is a project undertaken by the school and its students to support poor and vulnerable communities to stand up to its own feet for communal harmony, therefore supporting the government to attain the Millennium Development Goal. The support is mainly transformed thorough donations, job creation through interest free loans, health care assistance, etc.

Voluntary Services is a very aspect of Sunshine Grammar School. Sunshine Voluntary Service is one of the most active student voluntary services amongst all the English medium schools in Bangladesh. The school actively promotes students to become more involved with volunteering for its noble causes, to build a better society and therefore to understand the external environment (outside the routine of everyday life) better. This also enhances students' experience in school and helps widen their horizon to get a better perspective in life.

Sunshine Grammar School has a specialized team of very experienced doctors - dedicated to the people of Bangladesh during the time of need (i.e. cyclones, floods, climate change factors, etc). The school believes in ethical practices and therefore provides these services free of cost.

Sunshine Grammar School is aware of the socio-economic context of Bangladesh and therefore provides free education to the deprived and underprivileged children all around Chittagong. The school also provides free books and a monthly wage to these underprivileged children to ensure they stay in school and do not fall in the vicious net of child labour.

In the field of sports too, Sunshiners achieved their mark of excellence. Sunshine Grammar School & College regularly participates in various tournaments as well as it organizes tournaments in regular intervals. National cricketer Tamim Iqbal is one of Sunshine's contributions in the arena of sports. He was given the privilege to participate in cricket matches, skipping certain class tests. Sunshine Cricket Club was formed and in course of time Tamim climbed the ladder and joined the Bangladesh national cricket team to play in the world cup.

The new campus of Sunshine Grammar School and College will soon be vibrating with life as a gift to the city of Chittagong. The 120000 sq feet campus will consists of state of the art class rooms with all modern amenities. This campus will also feature swimming pool, play ground, indoor games facilities, assembly hall and many more.

- Star Desk