Government Laboratory High School
The Government Laboratory High School is a school located in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Govt. Lab. (as it is popularly known) was established on 3 September 1961. The boys' school is a leading public school of the region.
The beginning
Assistance for practice teaching for the trainees of Teacher's Training College was the main reason behind the establishment of Government Laboratory High School. From this point, the main organizer of setting up the institution was Muhammad Osman Gani, the then principal of Teacher's Training College. The person who inaugurated the school was Muhammad Shamsul Haque, the then director (D.P.I.) of Department of Public Education. The first headmaster of the school was Khan Muhammad Salek; starting in 1961 he served for 12 years. Below is the list of teachers with whom the school started.
The school building and campus
The present school building and the first one are not the same. The first floor of the front side of the building was expanded in 1986. The auditorium and college building were set up in 2005-06. The academic function of the college was started in the 2007-08 session.
The green field in front of the school building covers nearly 150,000 square feet (14,000 m2).
Monogram
A quote from the holy Qur'an 'nurun ala noor' meaning 'light more light' is the motto of the school. The motto is used in the monogram. Some others say that the motto is taken from the quote of German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The designer of the school monogram is 'Shilpachrya' Zainul Abedin.
Uniform
From years 1 to 3 the uniform is a white shirt with navy blue shorts and white keds. From the classes 4 to 12 the uniform is a white shirt with full-length navy blue pants and white keds. For all years the school's monogram is printed on the shirt pocket.
Class and section system
When the schools was first planned it was envisaged that study would start from class 3. However, due to special eagerness from both Muhammad Osman Gani and Khan Muhammad Salek, classes 1 and 2 were included. During this time classes 9 and 10 were omitted, but were added over the years.
Each class is divided into four sections — A, B, C and D — each containing 60 students. The students' day is split into two shifts, morning and day, with two sections studying in each half of the day.
House culture and tiffin system
The students are grouped into four houses for participation in competitions. The houses are named after four legends: Al Biruni, Al Ma'mun, Omar Khayam and Salahuddin. These men also represent four human qualities:
§ Al Beruni: Scholarship
§ Al Mamun: Good governance
§ Omar Khayam: Youth
§ Salahuddin: Bravery
Each house has a colour; yellow, blue, green and red respectively.
In 1962 a system for distributing tiffin was introduced. Money is deducted from the student's academic fees each month which entitles them to such snacks as singara, samucha, nimki, paratha and bundia or daal, jilapi, chopbun, cake, bananas, bread, eggs and sweets.
Library
The library has approximately 7,500 books. Most of them were bought by coeval sanctioned money during the establishment of the school. Others were bought by annually approved money.
School day
The 'birthday' of the school is 3 September. The day is celebrated as the 'school day' and the academic programs are canceled. Functions are organized in each of the sections. Students decorate their classes with balloons, posters, pictures, colorful papers, and they publish wall magazines which are adorned by the stories, poems and others things of their own. Teachers and guardians admire their works. Students sometimes give invitation letters to their teachers to visit their room. Sometimes a birthday cake is cut celebrating the birthday of the school.
School Magazine
The school magazine is Anushilan which was first published in 1963; the editor was Kazi Nurul Huq. The magazine is not published regularly every year.
Admission
Under the control of ‘Directorate General of Secondary and Higher Education, Dhaka’ admission tests of all the government schools of Dhaka city are taken. The schools are divided into four groups: A, B , C and D. Government Laboratory High School is in group A. Usually students are admitted in class 1, 6 and 9. Admission can be considered in other classes if vacancy is created. The admission test is taken usually in the first week of January.
Admission in higher secondary level is taken during usual period: after the publication of S.S.C. result.
There is an organization of the ex-students of the school named OLsA (Old Laboratorians Association). The aim of the organization is mainly to organize reunions amongst the ex-students of this school. Advertisements of OLsA's functions are published through the national dailies and its website.
There are some clubs and organizations to help co-curricular activities. There are Scout, B.N.C.C. and Red Crescent. The notable clubs are D.C.L. (Debating Club of the Laboratorians), Q.C.L. (Quiz Club of the Laboratorians) and L.S.C. (Laboratorian's Science Club).
The first examinees attended S.S.C.(Secondary School Certificate) examination from this school in 1964. That year a student from achieved 4th place in the merit list. The highest success came in 1993. That year as many as 27 students from this school had positions on the merit list. They grabbed 17 out of 20 places from the merit list.
More info on results can be found in the 'External links' section.
§ Khan Muhammad Salek
§ Hafiz Uddin Ahmed
§ Zafar Ali Khan
§ Md. Zafar Ali
§ Muhammad Muhibullah
§ Muhammad Nurul Huq Bhuiya
§ Muhammad Rabiul Islam Khan
§ Muhammad Zahirul Haque
§ Muhammad Habibullah Khan
§ Muhammad Momtazur Rahman
§ Muhammad Abdus Sobhan
§ Md. Nasir Uddin
§ Rashid Uddin Zahid
§ Abul Hasanat Faruq
§ Syed Hafizul Islam
§ A.K.M. Mostofa Kamal
§ MD Abu Sayeed Bhuiyan
