Ihtesham Hasan

In a tiny flat in one of the alleys of Mirpur, there is a school, named ‘Syed Rashid Ahmed Vidhyalaya’. Catering to young underprivileged children, the school recently got government registration and it follows the national curriculum. It has pre-primary and classes one to two for a total of 40 students. The classes are held for about two hours, six days a week. It even provides free lunch to the children on schooldays.
Coming from impoverished backgrounds, most of these children are orphans, whilst some only have a single parent. I recently had the privilege of spending some time with these wonderful children. Only a few words suffice to describe them: spectacular and endlessly adorable. They have mastered a handful of English and Bangla poems by heart, aside from numbers, days of the week, months and so on. The classroom was radiating positive vibes throughout my visit and there was a lot of enthusiasm in their voices.
A board at the back of their classroom showcases their wonderful artworks and writings. Most of the children do not have mothers. At first glance, it is evident that the teachers’ love for the students is genuine. The children’s education is not just restricted to academics, they are taught about etiquette and manners as well.
A quite subtle instance would be when I saw the children waiting patiently in queue while their classmates used the washroom. They used separate sandals for the washroom and even took the time to wash their hands thoroughly afterwards. As there is just one washroom and 40 students, before they eat, a teacher holds out a bowl in front of them and pours water onto their hands. Not only that, the teachers personally feed the younger children with affection.
Not only do the students get free lunch, they are also given a couple of books every month. This year, the school received free national curriculum textbooks from the government, but before the school was registered, they had to buy the books. All in all, the school covers all the students’ expenses, from stationeries and school bags to gifts and clothes on festive occasions like Eid.
What I saw from spending just a few hours with them, they have the potential to be something great in life. The only way it will be possible is if they are rightly guided. The staff, primarily the head coordinator, Kulsum Rashid, wife of Syed Rashid, the person after whom the school is named, work for the school with their heart and soul. Started from scratch, the school is as it is today only through their countless endeavours and sacrifices. Since the school runs on donations, naturally the paucity of finances poses a major obstacle for its development.   
This is a truly wonderful initiative taken by the organisers of the school. These children are the future of our country. You know our country is on the right track towards greater development when you see how much these children have learned in such a short span of time, defying all odds.