Dhaka Residential Model College

History

Field marshal Ayub Khan, the second president of Pakistan was the founder of Dhaka Residential Model College. Dhaka Residential Model College was established in 1960, in an area of about 50 acre beside Mirpur Road near Sher-e-Bangla Nagor in Dhaka by the then central government of Pakistan. Dhaka was the capital and the largest city of East Pakistan. In 1962, the administration of DRMC was assumed by the provincial government of East Pakistan. In 1965, the government converted the institution into an autonomous body and its administration was relegated to a board of governors with the Chief Secretary of East Pakistan as its chairman. In 1967, the government of Pakistan again took control of the school. At that time, a new board of governors was constituted with the Education Secretary of Pakistan as its Chairman. DRMC was originally established by Field marshal Ayub Khan, the first military leader of Pakistan, to provide education for army officers in East Pakistan. The school, and later the college, were modeled after public schools in the United Kingdom (according to the British Public Schools Act 1868), particularly Eton College. The house system was designed to resemble Eton's. After the independence of Bangladesh, a board of governors was appointed with the Education Secretary as its Chairman. Since its inception, the school has been funded through government grants and fees from students. The Board of Governors has been empowered to “frame rules as it deems necessary for the proper functioning of the school”.

The school began with only one study session, known as the Morning shift which operates from 8:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. In March 1993, another session known as the Day shift was added, according to the education expansion policy of the government, to cope with the growing number of students. The day shift session operates from 1:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Measures were taken to build a gymnasium, park, swimming pool, auditorium, mosque, administrative building and residences for the principal, vice-principal and school staff. The school opened eleventh and twelfth grades in 1967. In 1978, another dormitory named Lalon Shah House was built for students in grades 11–12. In 1999, it had about 600 students and 90 teachers, of which 20 were women. In 2008, a four-storied house named Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah was built for students of the day shift. As of 2010, the number of non-resident students is substantially larger than that of resident students.

Academics

Dhaka Residential Model College offers both primary and secondary education and emphasizes student discipline in all of their activities. It has laboratories for physics, chemistry, computers, biology, mathematics and geography and a library with more than 20,000 books, journals, newspapers and magazines. The academic year is divided into two terms. In addition to a terminal exam, three class tests are held each term. Students have to sit for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination at the end of the 10th grade, and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) at the end of the 12th grade. At the completion of the 5th grade, students have to sit for the Primary Education Completion Exam (PSC) examination program. Students at the end of the 8th grade have the option to sit for the Junior School Certificate (JSC). The school employs about 200 teaching staff and 80 non-teaching staff. The student-teacher ratio is 20:1. Teachers occasionally attend training programs organized by different government institutions. The school had more training workshops for its teachers than any other neighboring cluster of schools in 2000, under the English Language Teaching Improvement Project, which is funded by the British and Bangladeshi governments.

The school operates on two different schedules. Students can opt for either of the schedules right before their enrollment. Each schedule includes seven periods and a 30-minute break for lunch. Students are provided with snacks by the school. The school is a closed campus; students are not allowed to leave school grounds during school hours.

Admission

Although Dhaka Residential Model College operates from the 3rd through the 12th grade, it only admits students into the 3rd, 9th and 11th grades. Consequently, the higher grades have fewer students than the lower grades, as a relatively large number of students transfer out. Admission in the 3rd and 9th grades are based on admission tests. The admission tests for DRMC are highly competitive. Students in these grades are admitted through written and viva voce tests for both the morning and day shifts. Students who pass the written test have to qualify in the viva exam. In addition to written and viva tests, candidates have to go through a medical examination as well. Admission to the 11th grade is determined by a student's grade point average (GPA) in the SSC examination. Many students with the highest grades in the SSC compete for admission as the school has limited enrollment in every grade.

Curriculum

Dhaka Residential Model College's curriculum includes traditional primary, secondary and intermediate level academic subjects. Students of primary classes take academic core subjects including Bengali, English, mathematics, social science, general science, arts and crafts, religion and physical science. Students have to take agricultural science after completing their primary education. Students of the secondary level have to elect one of the three major programs: Arts and Humanities; Commerce; and Science. Students of the intermediate level (grades 11 and 12), have to elect one of the three major programs as well. Students have some compulsory subjects and some optional subjects in each of the programs.

Academic performance

The SSC and HSC examinations are conducted by the Board of Secondary and Intermediate Education under the Ministry of Education. SSC is the diploma awarded for the completion of grades one to ten, which is equivalent to the O Levels in the UK. HSC is the high school diploma which is equivalent to the high school diploma in the United States that is given after the completion of Grade 12, and the A Levels in the UK. The SSC examination consists of eleven subjects totaling 1,100 marks, with each subject given 100 marks, including practical tests for science subjects. A minimum of 33 marks are required to pass each subject. Subjects will depend on which major program a student has elected to study. These major programs are Sciences; Arts and Humanities; and Commerce. Students have to elect one of these three programs just before enrollment in the 9th grade for SSC, and again in the 11th grade for HSC. The HSC examination consists of six subjects totaling 1,200 marks, with each subject providing 200 marks, including practical tests for science subjects. The minimum number of marks required to pass each subject is 66. Results of both the exams are published in the form of a GPA. The highest score is GPA-5. The Dhaka Education Board annually ranks schools and colleges from across the country in terms of GPA-5 scorers.

DRMC has generally remained among the top ranked schools and colleges of Bangladesh since its inception. The Ministry of Education awarded the institution in 2008 for brilliant performance in the HSC examination. Dhaka Residential Model College's results from 2005 to 2009 for the Secondary School Certificate level examinations are as follows:

Performances in the Higher Secondary Certificate examinations from 2005 to 2014 are as follows:

Campus

Dhaka Residential Model College is located on a 50-acre (20 ha) campus in a residential neighborhood. The campus is in northwest Dhaka at Mirpur Road, just opposite the official residence of the Prime Minister. With 20 buildings (including the newly built Dr.Muhammad Shahidullah House), six of which are dormitories, it is one of the largest residential colleges in the country. The campus consists of dormitories, eight teachers' quarters, individual residences for the principal and vice-principal, staff quarters, a mosque, five basketball courts, several volleyball courts, a laundry shop, an auditorium, an administrative building, eight full-size football fields and an infirmary. The infirmary, which houses 20 beds, has arrangements for the treatment of common diseases and necessary vaccinations. It is headed by two doctors and has several pharmacists. The school has its own water-pump for the water supply of the college. In total, the college has 15 fields and playgrounds. Three buildings known as Academic Buildings are used for academic purposes. Academic Building 1, for ninth grade through to twelfth grade, is located at the northeast side; Academic Building 2, for third grade through to the eighth grade, is located at southeast corner of the campus.Academic Building 3, is newly opened and started organizing classes and exams in limit. A monument has been built in front of Academic Building 1 to commemorate those killed during the Bengali Language Movement demonstrations of 1952. The Language Movement was a political effort in East Pakistan, advocating the recognition of the Bengali language as an official language of Pakistan. The campus has a mini-zoo with deer and different species of birds called 'Bihangan Neer', (Bengali:বিহঙ্গ নীড়) which means birds' nest. This campus also has a big Banyan Tree known as 'Bot Tola',(Bengali:বট তলা) which is in front of Academic Building 2.Every year 'Annual Cultural Week' held there.

Houses

Dhaka Residential Model College has dormitories known as "houses". Two of the houses are for students in the third through the eighth grade, and the other four houses are for students in the ninth through twelfth grade. The houses are: Zainul Abedin House, Qudrat-E-Khuda House, Lalon Shah House, Kazi Nazrul Islam House, Fazlul Haq House and Dr.Muhammad Shahidullah House. All the houses are named after intellectuals or other renowned persons of the country. Zainul Abedin house was established on May 1, 1961. Before the independence of Bangladesh, the house was named Ayub House. The house has 12 rooms and accommodation for about 200 students. Qudrat-i-Khuda house has accommodation for 190 students and a total of 13 rooms. Fazlul Haq house has accommodation for around 130 students. Lalon Shah house was used as a medical center in 1960–1976. It was converted to a house in 1977. The house has accommodations for 102 students and a total of 29 rooms. The newly built Dr.Muhammad Shahidullah house was opened on March 20, 2008, exclusively for students of the day shift.

Each house is headed by a housemaster and a house-tutor, selected from senior members of the teaching staff, who number about 20. In addition to the housemaster and house-tutor, each house has a house prefect and a house elder, elected from students of the most senior year. The housemaster and prefects make announcements regarding the work schedule, important notices, and discipline related matters. Every evening, a Night Prep during which the boys study or prepare their school work is held for about two and a half hours under the supervision of the teachers. The principal and vice-principals occasionally visit the houses. Many inter-house competitions occur, mostly in the fields of sport and culture. Every house has a common room, an office room, a dining hall, a small library, kitchen, garden and a prayer room. The common room is used for watching television and gatherings on weekends. Indoor games such as table tennis and chess are also played in these rooms.

Uniform

Except in winter, the uniform for students from grades six to twelve consists of a short-sleeved white shirt with white trousers. For students from grades three to five, the uniform is a short-sleeved white shirt with navy blue half pants. The uniform differs a bit during the winter season. In winter, students wear a navy blue sweater with a necktie, in addition to shirt and pants. For footwear, students wear black Oxford shoes with white socks. In addition, a name tag and college badge are included as part of the uniform. There is a tiny color badge on the sleeve which indicates the house to which the student is attached to. Sport uniforms include white T-shirts with navy blue half pants and appropriate footwear. Resident students have distinctive uniforms as well.

Extracurricular activities

Due to the size of the college, extracurricular activities offered at Dhaka Residential Model College are many and varied, and are a major feature of DRMC. In addition to established sports, the college also has clubs for debate, science and culture. It also has Boy Scout troops. Students participate in different programs and contests like debating contests, art competitions, music, sports and athletics, essay writing, performing arts, quizzes, science fairs; math, chemistry, physics and astronomy Olympiads; and other extracurricular activities at both national and international levels.

Events and programs

Every year, DRMC plans and runs events intended to serve a variety of purposes – promoting school spirit, for enjoyment, or philanthropic causes. Some of which are open only to students in certain years, while others to the entire student population, alumni, and their respective friends and families. The college organizes an annual science fair as well as debates and cultural and sports competitions. It also hosts many local and international events. DRMC hosted the "Teletalk-DRMC Science Festival 2009", an inter-college science fair involving schools and colleges from across the country. DRMC participated in the International Convention on Students' Quality Control Circle (ICSQCC) in 2003. DRMC hosted the seventh ICSQCC in 2004. The Dhaka divisional round of the HSBC-Prothom Alo Language Competition, the nation's largest contest related to Bengali language and literature, was hosted by DRMC in 2009. UNESCO organized an education fair convening policymakers, students and members of the public at DRMC in 2009, to mark Global Action Week.

The school organizes a week-long cultural competition each year known as Cultural Week, which takes place under a big banyan tree in front of the Academic Building 2. Music contests, debates, recitations, acting, drama, painting and drawing competitions are organized during this week. Art, gardening, soil work, scouting and band education are also included in the extracurricular activities of DRMC. The college organizes a function on February 21 to observe International Mother Language Day every year. It also holds programs on the occasions of Pohela Boishakh, Independence Day Of Bangladesh, and National Victory Day.

Sports

Sports are a major feature of life at Dhaka Residential Model College. Among the outdoor games, football and cricket are the most popular. Cricket is played in winter while football in summer. DRMC has teams for football, cricket, volleyball, hockey and basketball that participate in national and regional games. The DRMC football team reached the finals and became runner-up in the first-ever Inter School Football Tournament 2003; one of its players won the Man of the Match trophy. The team won the championship in the Inter School Football Competition in 2006. DRMC also hosts many tournaments on its grounds. Within the college, teams from the houses take part in annual football, cricket, basketball and volleyball tournaments. It also holds indoor game tournaments such as table tennis and chess.

Debate and speech

Debating is one of the major extracurricular activities offered at Dhaka Residential Model College. Remains Debating Society (RDS) is the debating club of DRMC which represents the school in various regional and national level debating contests. The DRMC debate team became runner-up in 2001 in the 7th National Television School Debate Contest, one of the biggest debate contests in the country organized by Bangladesh Television (BTV). The DRMC debate team were champions in the English Debate Contest organized by the British Council in 2002. Competing with 60 schools in the country, the team won the championship in the 8th National Television School Debate Contest in 2003. Hosted by BTV, the team was presented with the Gold Cup by the Prime Minister. The Remains Debating Society hosted the Inter College Debate Contest 2009. The college was awarded "Best College" in the Trust Bank 5th NDF BD National Debate Festival 2010, the largest debate contest in the country annually organized by the National Debate Federation Bangladesh.

Quiz bowl

DRMC students actively take part in various quiz bowls. The DRMC quiz team became champions in a competition organized by Bangladesh Television in 2001. Among 50 competing schools, the DRMC team won first place by defeating Viqarunnisa Noon School. DRMC students, who have done well in many quiz bowls since 2001, won championships in the quiz contest at Notre Dame College Science Festival 2002, Standard Chartered-Prothom Alo 14th Inter College Quiz Contest hosted by the National Defence College, India, 28th National Science & IT Week 2005, Inter School Quiz Contest 2006 hosted by Shishu Academy and BCSIR Science Fair, the national level science fair hosted annually by the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. DRMC quiz team 'BOMARU' secured championship in National Inter School quiz competition organized by Bangladesh Shishu Academy in 2009.

Other extracurricular activities

Apart from debates, quiz bowls and sports, DRMC students also participate in other extracurricular activities such as math Olympiads, informatics Olympiads, science Olympiads and science fairs. The DRMC Math Team became runner-up in Dhaka regional Math Olympiad 2006 and won championships in 4th International World Youth Mathematics Intercity competition, National Math Olympiad 2008 and Math Olympiad 2009 hosted by Bangladesh University of Business and Technology. DRMC received the “Best Institution Award” in the regional Vasha Protijog, the biggest literary competition in the country.

Publications

DRMC publishes a magazine annually, Shandipan, containing school related news, poems, articles, stories, science fiction, jokes and other items of interest, written by the students, teachers and staff. The magazine reflects the creativity of the college, and provides an opportunity for students to express their thoughts. In addition, the college publishes supplements and souvenirs on the occasion of special functions and events such as the science fair and debate festival.

Notable alumni

Some of the notable alumni of Dhaka Residential Model College include:

Current and the former students of Dhaka Residential Model College are called REMIANS. The Old Remains have an organization called 'Old Remains Welfare Association' (ORWA). It publishes a school reunion guide and maintains a life membership endowment fund and an alumni database. The association assists with numerous projects designed to enrich student life and improve facilities. Many senior government officials and public representative of Bangladesh are Remains. The Remains organize reunions annually. The ORWA holds an annual meeting at the school and its board of governors occasionally organizes meetings.