Chattogram: After nearly sixty years, two new government school and college complexes with a capacity for 2,800 students are set to open in the Chattogram city area. Preparations are actively underway to initiate academic activities in the upcoming academic year at the Shah Amanat International Airport Government School and College in East Patenga and the Masterda Surya Sen Government School and College in North Patenga.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the construction of the buildings for both institutions is nearing completion, and two teachers have already been assigned to these schools. These educational facilities are being developed under the Ministry of Education's "Project for Establishing nine Government Schools and Colleges" in the country, with a project cost of Tk 446 crore in 2022. The institutions are expected to fulfill the long-standing demand for quality government education in Patenga and neighboring areas, regions that have historically lacked such educational institutions.
The two newly appointed teachers have traveled to the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) in Dhaka to address some issues necessary for beginning academic activities. Professor MM Shahidul Islam, Director of DSHE Chattogram division, confirmed that both educational institutions in Chattogram consist of 10-story buildings, each designed to accommodate around 1,400 students.
Plans are in place to equip these institutions with contemporary infrastructure and educational resources. Facilities will include modern classrooms, multimedia classrooms, ICT laboratories, science labs, libraries, seminar halls, multipurpose halls, prayer rooms, areas for mid-day meals, and first-aid centers. Additionally, internet connectivity, multimedia projectors, and sports equipment will be provided. Other amenities will include common rooms for teachers and students, a visitors' room, a BNCC room, a Girl Guides room, offices for the headmaster and assistant headmaster, an administrative office, a storeroom, an elevator, and toilet blocks.
These institutions are being developed as relatively comprehensive campuses compared to standard government secondary schools. The last newly established government secondary school in the city dates back to 1967. Although two private schools were nationalized in 1974 and 2017, no entirely new government secondary school has been created since that time. Despite the city's growing population, residential areas, and student numbers over nearly six decades, the number of government secondary schools has remained largely unchanged.
Over this extensive period, the demographics and urbanization of the city have significantly evolved, with considerable expansion in residential and industrial areas, particularly in Patenga, Halishahar, EPZ, the areas adjacent to the port, and southwest Chattogram. However, the growth of government secondary schools has not kept pace with this expansion, compelling students to travel to more distant locations within the city for enrollment. It is anticipated that these two new institutions will help alleviate some of this pressure.
District Education Officer Mohammad Abdul Aziz highlighted the longstanding necessity for a government school in the region. The government has established these two institutions with careful consideration of the area's extensive and densely populated characteristics. Project officials noted that a significant initial challenge was the lack of available land for implementation. Due to the difficulty in acquiring a large plot within the city, selecting an appropriate site for the new government schools took considerable time, ultimately leading to the selection of locations in Patenga.
The project, which commenced in 2018, was initially set to conclude in December 2025. However, the deadline has been extended by one year to December 2026. Two teachers, Mohammad Saiful Azam from Chattogram Muslim High School and Mohammad Mujibur Rahman from Sandwip, have been appointed as acting headmasters for the institutions.
The construction of infrastructure is nearing completion, and preparations for initiating academic activities are currently in progress. District Education Officer Mohammad Abdul Aziz expressed optimism that academic operations at both institutions will begin in the 2027 academic year.