Feature

Gala graduation ceremony at NSD

Sabuj Ahmed

THE New School, Dhaka (NSD) celebrated its First Graduation Ceremony (2008-2009) at Emmanuelle's Banquet Hall, Gulshan last week. Attended by parents, teachers and students, the programme was presided over by the chairman of the School Managing Committee Engineer Mohammed Abdul Malek. Renowned educationist, historian and writer Prof. Syed Anwar Husain, Department of History, Dhaka University, was the Chief Guest. Editor of Star Campus of The Daily Star Shahnoor Wahid, Country Manager of Edexcel UK Saidur Rahman and Chairman of Bengal Shipping Line Ltd. Mohammed Abdul Awwal were special guests. Certificates were conferred on 40 graduates - 9 of Pre-school, 20 of Ordinary Level and 11 of Advanced Level.

The evening started with the welcome speech by school principal Lt Col Mahmud Ul Alam, PhD (Retd). He advised students to keep in touch with their Alma Mater through NSD Alumni Association. As his final words to the first graduating class, he said “Love yourself, love your family, love your country, love humanity, love planet earth”

Principal Alam gave a brief overview of the achievements of the school in its first year of operation. In the very first year, NSD's success in the Ordinary, Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level examinations has been phenomenal. He informed the audience that the very first Advanced Level graduates of NSD are studying in renowned universities at both home and abroad. The school arranged science fairs, field trips, Baishakhi Mela, Bashanta Utsab, annual sports, art competitions, English and Bangla poetry recitation competition, observed all national days, hosted inter-school table tennis competition and participated in different inter-school tournaments, added Dr Alam calling it 'a happening year'.

Prof. Syed Anwar Husain, the Chief Guest of the ceremony, appreciated the school motto 'Learning-Living-Leading' as imaginative and inspiring. He underlined the importance of moral education along with academic excellence. He also pointed out that learning of English, should, in no way, undermine the learning and correct use of the mother tongue. Prof Husain praised the curriculum of the school as it teaches three languages and Bangladesh studies as compulsory subjects.

In his speech, Shahnoor Wahid appreciated the arrangement of the programme. He said, in its first graduation ceremony NSD has shown such promise that during its 10th graduation ceremony it will have to hire 10 times bigger hall. He promised all out cooperation to the school from the newspaper that he represented. Saidur Rahman of Edexcel said that he has observed the school closely since its inception as part of his professional duty and he appreciates what NSD has achieved in just one year. Awwal of Bengal Shipping Line Limited appreciated the school's emphasis on IT education.

A colourful cultural programme performed by the NSD students followed the Graduation Ceremony. The function comprised of Rabidra sangeet, patriotic songs, folk dance, classical dance and 3 performances by the NSD School Band. Acoustics and lighting made the event more enjoyable. The event was concluded with a dinner.