Guru Griho

From Sylhet

Sirajuddin Ahmed Academy in its teens

Iqbal Siddiquee

THIS school just turned 13. Sirajuddin Ahmed Academy stands on the Sylhet-Zakiganj highway. It is only 8 kilometres off the divisional city of Sylhet.

Academic activities began in the institution from 1st January, 1996. The politician and social worker Siraj Uddin Ahmed set up this school on his own valuable land in the Srirampur area of Sylhet. He thought of the children who attended this academy as his own.

The academy got affiliation as a junior school from the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Comilla in 1996. Due to its good performance in 1999 it was taken as an MPO listed institution. In the same year, the institution was given approval for opening secondary education in Sciences, Humanities and in Business Studies groups.

The institution had already pressed for computer education by qualified teachers in classes from VI to X in addition to other subjects. In addition to the academic activities, the institution has extracurricular activities like boy scouts and girl guides. The members of boy scouts and girl guides engage in activities at the district level.

A total of 13 teachers in addition to 5 part timers and temporary ones are engaged in running the academy and making sure everything is okay. The number of students now stands at 750.

The school encourages all sorts of activities. For example, children participate in a proper debate competition in both Bangla and English every month. There is also a library and a computer lab there. The academy has a 2-storeyed building and a 3-storeyed one. There is a hall room for organising meetings and functions on a regular basis.

Born in 21st February, 1935, freedom fighter Siraj Uddin Ahmed is fondly remembered in this area. He was associated with other organisations and institutions like the Red Crescent society, Sylhet Station Club, Sylhet Press Club and so on. He was also a well known face in the cultural arena. He died on 14th January of 2002.

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