Ctg going to break a 60-year hiatus as 2 new govt schools get ready to welcome 2,800 students

After almost sixty years, two new government school and college complexes with a capacity for 2,800 students are going 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 (located in East Patenga) and the Masterda Surya Sen Government School and College (situated in North Patenga). The construction of the buildings for both institutions is approaching completion, and two teachers have already been assigned to these schools. Sources said the two institutions in Chattogram are being developed under the Ministry...

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After almost sixty years, two new government school and college complexes with a capacity for 2,800 students are going 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 (located in East Patenga) and the Masterda Surya Sen Government School and College (situated in North Patenga).

The construction of the buildings for both institutions is approaching completion, and two teachers have already been assigned to these schools.

Sources said the two institutions in Chattogram are being developed under the Ministry of Education’s “Project for Establishing nine Government Schools and Colleges” in the country at a cost of Tk 446 crore in 2022. The institutions are expected to meet the long demand for quality government education for the large population of Patenga and its neighboring areas, a region that has historically experienced a deficit of such educational institutions.

The two newly appointed teachers have already traveled to the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) in Dhaka to seek quick steps for solving some issues necessary for beginning academic activities.

Confirming the information Professor MM Shahidul Islam, Director DSHE Chattogram division told BSS that both educational institutions in Chattogram consist of 10-story buildings, each designed to accommodate around 1,400 students.

There are plans to enhance these institutions with contemporary infrastructure and educational resources, he said, adding that the facilities will encompass modern classrooms, multimedia classrooms, ICT laboratories, science labs, libraries, seminar halls, multipurpose halls, prayer rooms, areas for mid-day meals, and first-aid centers.

Furthermore, internet connectivity, multimedia projectors, and sports equipment will be made available. Additional amenities will include a common room for teachers, a common room for 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 two institutions are being developed as relatively comprehensive campuses in comparison to standard government secondary schools, the sources said.

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. As a result, despite the city’s population, residential areas, and student numbers increasing over nearly six decades, the number of government secondary schools has remained largely static.

Throughout this extensive period, the demographics and urbanization of the city have experienced significant changes. Residential and industrial areas have expanded considerably, especially in Patenga, Halishahar, EPZ, the areas adjacent to the port, and southwest Chattogram. However, the growth of government secondary schools has not matched 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.

In Patenga, the Shah Amanat International Airport Government School and College has been established in East Patenga, while the Masterda Surya Sen Government School and College is situated in North Patenga.

District Education Officer Mohammad Abdul Aziz emphasized 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 highlighted 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, the process of selecting an appropriate site for the new government schools took considerable time, ultimately leading to the selection of locations in Patenga.

Initially, the project, which commenced in 2018, was set to conclude in December 2025; however, the deadline was subsequently 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 approaching completion, and preparations for initiating academic activities are currently in progress. District Education Officer Mohammad Abdul Aziz has conveyed optimism that academic operations at both institutions will begin in the 2027 academic year.