Ideal School and College (Bengali: আইডিয়াল স্কুল অ্যান্ড কলেজ), commonly known as Motijheel Ideal School and College (despite there being 2 more branches of the school) is an educational institution in Bangladesh established in 1965. Although the school was set up to cater for the children of surrounding areas, students come from all parts of Dhaka. The institution has three campuses inside Dhaka in Motijheel, Mugda, Banasree.
History
Ideal School and College started as a primary school on 15 March 1965 in Motijheel at the initiative of residents of Motijheel AGB Colony. The school was upgraded to a junior school in 1968, and after independence the school was upgraded to a full-fledged high school in 1968. Students from the school participated in Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations (O-level equivalent) for the first time in 1973.[1]
Classes are held in two shifts: morning shift and day shift. There are two faculties for secondary education: Science and Commerce. The school does not have any Arts faculty. There are many extra-curricular clubs present, and branches of BNCC and Scouts are also present.[2]
During the first 25 years, the school kept its growth as a high school only (10 years of formal education according to the Bangladeshi Standards). Following the demand and the requests from the guardians, a college (11th and 12th year of formal education according to the Bangladeshi Standards) for female students was added here in 1991.
The administration opened a new branch on the occasion of the 30th anniversary in 9098 in the Banasree residential project of Rampura with 702 students. Khandakar Mustaq Ahmedis the founder-headmaster of the institution. In 2003, the English version section of Motijheel campus opened. In 2012, the Banasree English version section was opened. Seeing the request of people, the government has granted 1 acre and 6 katha or 402 m2 for a new branch in Mugda. In 2011, the third branch of Ideal School and College opened. The prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, inaugurated this branch by laying the foundation stone of the proposed academic building. At present, around twenty-six thousand students are studying in this institution.[2]
Historical events
1965: Initiative taken.
1965: Establishing year.
1968: Turned on to Junior school.
1972: Turned on to High school (Renamed to Ideal High School)
1973: Students first participated in SSC.
1991: College section opened.
1996: Started a new branch in Rampura, Banasree.
2003: Establishment of English Version in Motijheel campus.
2007: Completion of a four storied school campus for the Banasree branch.
2010: Construction started for a separate campus for English Version.
2011: 8 June, a new branch opened at Mugda, Dhaka.
2012: Authority decided to open English version on Banasree Branch.
2012: 9 June, a regular committee has been formed by the direct vote of the guardians and teachers.
2013: Construction of 2 Storied academic building at Banasree has been started.
2014: 26 October, construction of five stories of the English version building is completed.
2016: Start of construction of 8th to 10th story of Academic Bhaban.
2017: Construction of 8th to 10th story of "Academic Bhaban" is completed.
2023: Establishment of English version in Mugda branch.[2]
Established 2013. The school has a Red Crescent that helps people affected by floods and other natural calamities. They organize basic First Aid workshops for the students of schools and colleges.[4]
The institute has three campuses in Dhaka: Motijheel, Banasree and Mugda.
Motijheel
The Main Branch and College campus is beside Peerjongi's Majar and Motijheel AGB Colony. It was established on 15 March 1965 with the help of the people of AGB Colony. In 1980, President Ziaur Rahman granted 1.2 acres of this campus. There are six buildings.[11]
Main Building, 5 storied
Science Building, 5 storied
English Version Building, currently 7 storied
College Building (also known as academic building) 10 storied
Quarters, 4 storied
Banasree Branch
Banasree Branch, English Version Building, photographed around 2020.
The third campus is in Mugda. The government granted 1 acre and 6 katha or about 400 m2 land in 2010. It started classes with 1800 students on 20 March 2011. Classes were held in a one-storied tin-shed building. On 8 June 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the Academic Building. A five-storied building has been built there.[11]
Academics
The school offers primary and secondary education in both Bengali Medium and English Version for boys and girl. Boys and girls are split into separate shifts. Girls attend school in the morning shift starting at 8 AM while boys attend their classes in the day shift starting at 12:00PM. However, male students from class 1 to 3 can also attend classes in the morning shift. Morning shift starts from 6:45 am and ends at 11:30 am. Day shift starts at 12:00 pm and ends at 4:20 PM (class 1-5) and 5:15 PM (class 6-10).[12]
Controversy
The institution has been accused of "Admission business" (illegal admission of students in exchange for money) many times throughout the years.[13][14]
Many staff and teachers of the school has long been accused of misusing and abusing funds.[15]
In 2020, hundreds of parents picketed the school and blocked a major road in Dhaka protesting the decision of making Islamic dress optional for students. Police arrested the head of the Guardian Unity Forum and 3 others allegedly for spreading rumors about the dress code for students of the institution.[16]
In 2021, the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh launched an investigation regarding the allegations of acquiring illegal wealth by Shahanara Begum, former principal of Ideal School and College.[17]
In 2023, The institution's governing body member Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed married an student of the college, causing a controversy.[18]
In 2024, it was alleged that the yearly governing body election did not follow the necessary guidelines for accreditation.[19]
