The Institution in Retrospect
Run under the aegis and leadership of the Brothers of Holy Cross, a Roman Catholic Religious Congregation dedicated and committed to promoting education among the common masses, the present St. Joseph Higher Secondary School saw the light of the day on 19 March, 1954 as St. Joseph High School at 16, Monir Hossain Lane, Narinda in the heart of the then Dhaka City with
only four students. The school was founded by the late Brother Jude Costello, C.S.C. As the Headmaster of the school for a short time since its inception, he steered the school to a considerable expansion. The steady increase in the number of students in the following years expedited the necessity of moving the school to a conveniently larger site at 32, Shah Sahib Lane at Narinda. The late Brother Jude Costello, C.S.C., a great scholar and exponent of educational expansion, started the negotiation of the property for the school in Mohammadpur area. He was soon replaced by Brother Fulgence Dougherty, C.S.C. who acquired the property and shouldered the responsibility to erect buildings on the new site at Asad Gate. Later on Brother Gerald Kraeger took over the duties and responsibilities of the Headmaster and carried the remaining work through. The ease of access to Mohammadpur, the big playground and the steady progress of skilled workmen drew the attention of student community of Dhaka City. And eventually the school was shifted to its newly-built campus at 97 Asad Avenue, Mohammedpur, Dhaka -1207 in 1965. Initially the school was an English Medium International School following the syllabus and curriculum of the University of Cambridge. But in accordance with the decision of the Government in 1972, the school was transformed into a Bengali Medium Secondary School under the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka. Brother John Rozario, C.S.C., a legendary Principal of St. Joseph Higher Secondary School from 1990 to 2007 now acting as the Emeritus Principal, conceived the idea of transforming the Secondary school into a Higher Secondary school. He made great strides into promoting the school to college level. Under his leadership and patronage, the school ventured to open the College Section with an English Medium Science Section in 1999 and turned out to be a great success in the very first year of Board Exams. In 2001 Bengali Medium Science Sections and Business Studies Section and in 2004 Humanities Section were added for further extension of the institution. An English Medium (NCTB Curriculum) Section was opened in Class-VI in 2004. Now the School has three sections in each class of which one is English Medium. Aims and Goals
The words ‘Advancing in Wisdom and Virtue’ in the monogram of the institution best serves the purpose and goals of the institution. The prime goals of the institution are to impart quality education to the students, get them possessed with the best of human qualities, make them aware of their rights and responsibilities, develop their leadership quality, promote their sense of morality, social values, fellow feeling and brotherhood and thus creating a complete man. Joseph is not only an academic institution, but a place where creativity is nurtured and nourished, individuality is developed at full pelt and social commitment is embedded. Leaders are not born, they are created here. The students who receive an education at St. Joseph Higher Secondary School receive an excellent education in the Holy Cross tradition. The philosophy of educating both the mind and the heart develops not only the intellectual gifts of the students for their pursuit of innumerable opportunities but, most importantly, it instills, through the love of the heart, communal responsibility for the good of society and a genuine compassion for the less fortunate who need help and understanding in finding their way through life. The Institution at a Glance
St. Joseph Higher Secondary School stands out as one of the premier institutions of Bangladesh. The institution has accumulated an enviable fame in terms of outstanding performance of the students in the public exams as well as an overflow of students from around the country to accommodate to.100% passing rates with a very substantial number of GPA-5 over the years and a congenial atmosphere of the institution for teaching and learning have attracted people who realize the essence of true education. Joseph opens doors for the students to open their eyes and mind as well as paves the way for making themselves complete and successful citizens. The students taught here have distinguished themselves in all fields, in all walks of life both at home and abroad. They have excelled others and become prominent figures in all spheres bringing with them a strong sense of duty and responsibility for the strength and prosperity of their beloved nation. The entrance to St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in Class-III is extremely tough and truly a long-cherished desire of thousands of parents around the country. Each class (from class-III to class-XII) has intakes at the beginning of an academic session provided that the seats are vacant. Each class (from class-III to class-X) has three sections comprising 180 students of which one is an English Medium section. Class-XI and class-XII have six sections each- 4 science sections including an English Medium section, 1 Business Studies section and 1 Humanities section. Every year a total of more than 400 students are selected from thousands for admission in class-XI. A team of dedicated, committed, highly competent and experienced faculties educated and trained at home and abroad are serving to help grow students’ intellectual capacity and potential following the Holy Cross creed of education and teaching. The classes start at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 1.00 p.m. No student is allowed inside after 8:20 a.m. Buildings and Campus
A composite of two four-storey buildings with a two-storey building in the annex for teachers and office is located in an elite and posh area of Dhaka City just a stone’s throw from the Parliament (Samsad Bhavan). The institution has a large idyllic campus of about 3.5 acres with a number of playgrounds such as cricket and football ground, basketball ground, volleyball ground, table tennis ground, etc. It has a very gigantic open auditorium adjacent to the main buildings accommodating more than 2000 people. The classrooms of the institution are spacious, well-ventilated and well-furnished. The students of classes III to X are given individual desks. Library
A good library epitomizes a good institution. The library of St. Joseph Higher Secondary School is the replica of a well-furnished and resourceful library. It was founded by Brother Lorenzo Powers, CSC in 1954.It has thousands of books and magazines of rare collection. Since its launch the library has been a great source of reading, learning and entertainment for the book loving students. Laboratories
A well-equipped, well-decorated, neat and clean laboratory is an emblem of a top-class prestigious institution. Joseph has such state-of-the-art, separate laboratories for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Computer. Computer laboratory is equipped with internet facilities to the students. The School Canteen
The institution has a fairly large canteen to facilitate the students’ need of taking refreshments during the recess. It serves different quality food items chargin
g competitive costs.
