Notre Dame College (Dhaka)
| Notre Dame College, Dhaka | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Motto |
Diligite Lumen Sapientiae (love the light of wisdom) |
| Established | 1949 |
| Type | Higher Secondary School, University Affiliated College |
| Principal | Fr. Benjamin Costa CSC |
| Students | 4500 |
| Location | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Campus | Urban |
| Nickname | NDC/ Notre Damianz |
| Website | http://www.notredame.ac.bd |
Contents
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History
Notre Dame College was established in Arambagh, Dhaka in November, 1949. It was established by the Roman Catholic Priests from the Order of Holy Cross because of the crisis in the education sector of the new born East Pakistan. It was known as the St. Gregory College, an extension of the St. Gregory's School, which was also established by the mission. It was relocated to its current location in Motijheel in 1954 and renamed to Notre Dame College. The new name was a tribute to the University of Notre Dame, the alma mater of many of the faculty members. In French Notre Dame means Our Lady, that stands for Mother Mary.Students of the college obtained the first place in the combined merit list of the Higher Secondary Certificate Examinations seven times in eight years between 1952 and 1959. The institution, run by Roman Catholics, is open to all students, whether rich or poor, Bengali or tribal, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, or Buddhist. Entrance of Notre Dame College
The college began with classes in arts and commerce subjects. By 1955, it had Bachelor of Arts courses and in 1960, it started Bachelor of Science courses. It gained affiliation with the University of Dhaka in 1955. In 1959 it was declared the best college in East Pakistan in recognition of the high percentage of successful candidates in university examinations.
In the 1960s, it fell short of teachers. The problem led the college authority to borrow volunteers from a British organization called Graduate Volunteers Service Overseas who taught at the college from 1963 to 1970. It was during this period when researcher Father Richard Timm, C.S.C. became associated with the college. Like every other college in the country, Notre Dame was becoming more and more trapped in the growing political agitation throughout the country during 1968-69 and its administration was put to a delicate and trying situation especially in the months of the country's war of liberation. The college was involved in relief and rehabilitation work at that time.
The college continued its efforts to provide education to its students in independent Bangladesh. The college has a department of guidance and counseling and a director of studies. It has a literacy program for slum children. It teaches social welfare as a special discipline. It has a student work program, under which about 125 students work in the college to pay for their tuition. It has a small clinic.
The medium of instruction in the college has been Bengali since 1972. Later, English medium was re-opened.
Since 1980s (after the liberation war), Notre Dame College gained reputation of the best institution for higher secondary education in the country. The highest number of perfect GPA holders in national examination (H.S.C.) and the exceptional success of its students in university admission tests bear testimony to this.
Students of the college
Every year Notre Dame College takes around 1250 students through the most competitive college admission process in the country. With the prestige of the highest number of perfect GPA holders in national examination (H.S.C.), Notre Dame College affords to accept students only with exceptional merit and caliber.Clubs of Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College has 28 extracurricular clubs (Source: Blue and Gold, Yearly Magazine, 2002-2004) including:- Debating Club
- Science Club
- Adventure Club
- Rover Scouts NDCRS
- Business Club
- Chess Club
- Manabik Shogho
- Nature Study Club
- Degree Club
- Yuva (Youth) Red Crescent
- Rotaract Club
- Natyadol (Theater Group)
- Abritti Dol (Reciting Group)
- History club
- Association for Medical help and Environmental Health promotion
- International Understanding and Relation Club
- Cultural Club
- Lekhok Kunjo (Writers' Guild)
- English Club
Notre Dame Science Club, moderated by Professor Sushanta Kumar Sarkar, is one of the oldest science clubs in the country. It celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1999.
Disaster Response Activities
Notre Dame College conducts relief activities after natural disasters. The students and staff participated in relief work after the "Sidr" disaster and the NDC relief distribution team went for rehabilitation program in Gowarnadi (south part of Bangladesh)on December 16, 2007.Publications
Blue and Gold is the year book of Notre Dame College. Notre Dame College publishes students' monthly magazines- Dhak Dhol - Chit Chat. Each club has its own yearly magazine/publication. Among them AUDRI of Notre Dame Science Club is the most famous.NISHORGA,annual magajine of Notre Dame Nature Study Club is also worth mentioning.Administration
The college is managed by priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Dhaka. Since its establishment, ten priests have served as the principal of the college.
- John J. Harrington, 1949-54
- James L. Martin,1954-60
- Theotonius Amal Ganguly, March, 1960 - October, 1960
- William Graham, 1960-67
- John Vanden Bossche, 1967-69
- Joseph S.Peixotto, 1969-70
- Richard Timm, 1970-71
- Ambrose Wheeler, 1971-76
- Joseph S.Peixotto, 1976-1998
- Benjamin Costa, 1998-
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