Dhaka Residential Model College

nment of Bangladesh recognized the school for its strong performance in the Higher Secondary Certificate examination in 2008. The institution was awarded 'Best College' in the 5th National Debate Festival 2010, the largest debate contest in the country organized by the Bangladesh. The school quiz team won the championship at the Inter School Quiz Contest 2006, the nationwide school level quiz bowl hosted by Shishu Academy, the national academy for children in Bangladesh. Dhaka Residential Model College was established in 1960, in an area of about 60 acre beside Mirpur Road near Sher-e-Bangla Nagor in Dhaka by the then Central Government of Pakistan. Dhaka was the capital and the largest city of East Pakistan. In 1962, the administration of DRMC was assumed by the Provincial Government of East Pakistan. In 1965, the government converted the institution into an autonomous body and its administration was relegated to a board of governors with the Chief Secretary of East Pakistan as its chairman. In 1967, the Government of Pakistan again took control of the school. At that time, a new board of governors was constituted with the Education Secretary of Pakistan as its Chairman. DRMC was originally established by the Ayub Khan, the first military leader of Pakistan, to provide education for army officers in East Pakistan. The school, and later the college, were modeled after public schools in the United Kingdom (according to the British Public Schools Act 1868), particularly Eton College. The house system was designed to resemble Eton's. After the independence of Bangladesh, a board of governors was appointed with the Education Secretary as its Chairman. Since its inception, the school has been funded through government grants and fees from students. The Board of Governors has been empowered to “frame rules as it deems necessary for the proper functioning of the school”. The school began with only one study session, known as the Morning shift which operates from 8:00 a.m. In March 1993, another session known as the Day shift was added, according to the education expansion policy of the government, to cope with the growing number of students. The day shift session operates from 1:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Measures were taken to build a gymnasium, park, swimming pool, auditorium, mosque, administrative building and residences for the principal, vice-principal and school staff. DRMC was established as a fully residential educational institution with five dormitories, but because of a significant increase in the number of students over the last two decades, the school also offers a non-resident option for students. Built in 1960, Qudrat-i-Khuda House was the first dormitory for students in grades 3–7. Another dormitory named Ayub House was built in 1961, capable of accommodating around 200 students of the same grades. After the liberation of Bangladesh, it was renamed after Zainul Abedin, the most renowned painter of Bangladesh. The school opened eleventh and twelfth grades in 1967. In 1978, another dormitory named Lalon Shah House was built for students in grades 11–12. In 1999, it had about 600 students and 90 teachers, of which 20 were women. In 2008, a four-storied house named Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah was built for students of the day shift. As of 2010, the number of non-resident students is substantially larger than that of resident students.