Scholastica is a private English medium school in Dhaka, Bangladesh, offering pre-school to A level courses. It was founded in 1977 by businesswoman and former advisor to the government, Yasmeen Murshed. The school follows the Cambridge International Curriculum set by the Cambridge Assessment International Education for Grade 9 to 12 and offers the GCE O Level, GCE AS Level and the GCE A Level qualifications. It is prominently recognised as one of the elite schools of Bangladesh, boasting a strong alumni network.[2]
| Scholastica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Information | |
| School type | Cambridge Assessment International Education Private |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Yasmeen Murshed |
| Chairperson | Syed Maher Murshed |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Classes | Play group to A Levels |
| Language | English and Bengali |
| Hours in school day | 8:00 am to 2:40 pm for students |
| Campus | Uttara, Gulshan, Dhanmondi, Banani and Mirpur |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Colour(s) | White and Blue |
| Sports | Various[1] |
| Nickname | Stallions |
| Website | scholasticabd |
History
editScholastica was founded in 1977, in an effort to meet the demands for schools having English as the medium of instruction, but emphasising equal proficiency in Bengali.[3] At the time of its founding, the school comprised a single campus for junior-level students (grades PG to Class 2) in Dhanmondi. Since then, the school has expanded to six campuses: four for junior-level students, and two senior-level campuses, both the Mirpur and Uttara campuses are now considered the school's main campus.
Curriculum
editScholastica offers a complete primary, elementary, secondary and high school program leading to the General Certificate of Education examinations which are conducted by the British Council in Dhaka.
Since the 2008–09 academic session, the school's O and A Level examinations have been administered by Cambridge Assessment International Education, replacing the Edexcel system of schooling.
Laboratory
editLaboratory facilities are provided for all the science classes. The senior laboratories are inspected and approved by the representatives of the University of London to meet its standard for the practical requirement of the 'O' and 'A' Level examinations.
Extra-curricular activities
editScholastica extra-curricular activities include drama, debating and public speaking. The school also offers a large number of both teacher and student run clubs.[4] School teams participate in inter-school and national competitions.[5] Theatrical presentations are performed in English and Bengali, and it is well known for its annual dramas.[6] Several after-school programs are offered beginning in middle school.
The school is also famous for its renowned Model United Nations conferences, known as "SCHOMUN" in its Uttara Branch which was also the first school affiliated Model UN conference in the country. The conference is managed by the school's Model UN club founded in 2015 with Shadman Shakib serving as the club's president during the 2015-2016 and 2016–2017 academic sessions.
The school's Mirpur Campus also hosts its own conference known as "SMUN".[7] The school is also known for hosting the Scholastica Business Summit or "SBS."[8]
Notable alumni
edit- Umran Chowdhury, Bangladeshi lawyer and historian
- Dina Hossain, filmmaker and daughter of Dr. Kamal Hossain
- Sumaiya Eskander, niece of Khaleda Zia
- Tania Amir, lawyer and senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh
- Wasfia Nazreen, first Bangladeshi and Bengali to the complete the Seven Summits record[9]
- Shazia Omar, Bangladeshi English-language novelist[10]
- Iresh Zaker, a Bangladeshi advertising executive, television and film actor, and a musician.[11]
- Nizam Uddin Jalil John, former Member of Parliament
- Tulip Siddiq, British politician and niece of Sheikh Hasina
- Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy of the Government of Bangladesh
Notable faculty
edit- Zafar Sobhan taught English literature at Scholastica for a year.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Scholastica, Narinda retain title in School Handball". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ Sreenivasan Jain (4 July 2016). "From Elite Schools To ISIS? Mystery of Dhaka Attackers". NDTV. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- "Security boosted at Dhaka schools". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016. - ^ "Profile of Some Schools of Dhaka". The Daily Star. Bangladesh. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ "Hasina, but not Rehana, wants Tulip in Bangladesh politics". Prothom Alo. BSS. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- ^ Angela, Nusrat Jahin (4 September 2013). "Flying High at Harvard Model United Nations Conference". The Daily Star. Bangladesh. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ "'Aladdin' Staged at Scholastica". The Business Standard. 5 November 2022.
- ^ "3-day Model United Nations conference held at Scholastica". Dhaka Tribune. 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Scholastica hosts Business Summit beginning today". Daily Sun. 9 November 2017.
- ^ Salam, Upashana (21 November 2014). "Wasfia's Everest". The Daily Star. Bangladesh. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- ^ Kasturi, Charu Sudan (5 July 2016). "Missing from class photo, youth surfaces in café". The Telegraph. Kolkata.
- ^ Sultana, Fauzia (25 September 2011). "Master of Many Trades". Star Campus. The Daily Star.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20220626232043/https://fromstonestocastles.pressbooks.com/chapter/zafar-sobhan/