Rangpur Zilla School

History

The school was established in 1832 as Rangpur Zamindar School, by the local Zaminders or landlords. Nathial Smith, the district collector working for the British East India Company led government, also had a central role. The school was inaugurated by Lord William Bentinck, the erstwhile Governor General of Bengal. The Maharaja or Cooch Bihar donated funds for construction of the school building. Krishna Nath Ray joined as the first headmaster of the school.

The school was taken under the management of the Government of British India in 1857. It was affiliated with the Calcutta University. In 1862, it was renamed to Rangpur Zilla School.

The school building and other facilities were expanded between 1870 and 1874.

But it is a matter of great sorrow that the house burnt down in 1878 and the school had a very precarious existence for the next few years. Then it was first removed to Keranipara where the classes were held in different private houses for about a year. It was then shifted to the coochbehar building whose ruins are hardly to be seen near the main entrance of the present school compound the building being very old and in a dilapidated condition the school was again shifted to the silk-godown of Mr. Rainy in the north-west of the present district board building where it continued for one year. It was removed to a big house (Atchala) where the present demonstration farm stands. It continued there for five years. It was during this period that the school was raised to the status of a second grade college. Babu Chandra Nath Bhattacharjee, Head teacher, became the principal and the renowned Pandit Jadabeswar Tarkartna, the professor of Sanskrit. The college lasted for only four years and had to be reduced to its former Status for paucity of students.

The foundation of the present building was laid on 15.66 acres of land in2883 by Sir Ashley Eden the then Lieutenant Governor of Bengal and the School was removed there the same year, Quarters for the headteacher’s subsequently provided by a private endowment fund which was administered by district Magistrate. The interest being spent for the up-keep of the same.

Since then the school has gradually developed into a first class institution catering to the educational needs of the various communities of the district. Science side classes, a special feature of the school, were opened in 1904 and to meet the growing demand for accommodation four commodious rooms were added to the original building in 1915. In order to provide facilities for moffussil (that is rural) student three hostels have been attached to the school. The Hindu and Kshatriya Hostel were constructed in 1919. The school now possesses extensive play grounds, commodious three storied hostels, a spacious common room, an auditorium with modern facilities, a large library, an open air gymnasium, and small flower garden. The centenary of the school was celebrated on 11 April 1937. Recently this year it has celebrated the one century and 175 years.

Rangpur Zilla School was continuing its double shifts since 1991, namely the Morning shift and the Day shift. Morning shift had grade three to grade ten with 850 students. On the contrary the Day shift had 880 students with grade three to Ten. Both shifts have experience and subjects expert teachers who are teaching its students skillfully and effectively.

Campus

The campus of this institution covers an area of 14 acres. The academic building is I-shaped. It is a two-storied building. There is a library, an auditorium, a prayer room, individual laboratories for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science and other subjects. It contains 55 classrooms for the students. The school campus also contains the hostels for the students of this school. This school has a large field in front of the main building. There is also a pond behind class rooms.Many famous cricket, football and hockey players started their careers playing on this field. Nasir Hossain, famous player in Bangladesh cricket team, played his first cricket match with cricket ball in this field. The school also possesses a library and laboratories for subjects including physics, chemistry, biology, and computer studies.

Extra-curricular activities

This school is renowned for not only education but also extra-curricular activities. It won the national championship of cricket, football and hockey for several times. It has a large playground where the students can make practice of different games. Many inter-city & inter-school Cricket & Football tournament is held on the field of this school throughout the year. Many renowned player of Bangladesh cricket team such as Aftab Ahmed, Akram Khan were the students of this school. There are also the activities of Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC), Rover Scout, Red Crescent at this school. Every year school authority arranges inter-school sporting events in the school field.

Curriculum

The syllabus of every class is made by the teachers of this institution according to the rules of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dinajpur. Medium of instruction is Bengali. The students of class IX, X & SSC have to participate in the laboratory workout as well as theory classes.Three semester exam is taken in a year. These are 1st, 2nd & final semester.If a student fails in the final exam he will not be promoted in the next class.The students of class V,VIII & X have to participate in Primary Ending Exam, Junior School Certificate Exam & Secondary School Certificate Exam.

Admission

In January the school takes students in class III,V, VI and IX.The intake is class III-140, V-140, Class VI-140 & Class IX-60.Students have to qualify in a highly competitive admission test in order to get admitted in this school. Only 15% can admit in the school of the total applicants. The teachers of this institution are appointed directly by the government of Bangladesh through an Associate Teacher Recruitment Examination taken throughout the country.

Activities & Achievements

The school is known for the quality of education. For example, in 2004, it was 2nd among the top 10 schools in the Rajshahi Education Board in terms of results of the Secondary School Certificate Examination.

Since its establishment, Rangpur Zilla School has produced a lot of scientists, writers, University teachers, high officials and et al. A renowned atomic scientist recently late Dr. Wazed Miah, husband of honorable present Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, was the student of Rangpur Zilla School.

Notable alumni