Seven years of success: You are where you study, says Sir Adamjee Institute
The school was set up to educate Federal B Area residents and not just academically.
KARACHI:
Balloons and drapes, all in a combination of red and white, adorned the stage and ambient music echoed down Sir Adamjee Institute’s (SAI) auditorium.
Federal B Area, near Hussainabad, houses predominately hardworking middle class people. It was here that the SAI shaped a plan to create an intermediate programme, with just 27 students. That was seven years ago.
Today, SAI is now educating 410 students with the same motto as when it started - to educate and empower the middle class. The institute’s academic management is overseen by Commecs Educational Trust.
“At only Rs3,500 per month, we endeavour to provide our students with an environment as good as the colleges located in Defence Housing Authority,” said principal Najeeb Anjum who has served in Pakistan Navy for a good part of his life and is a retired Commodore.
“I want September 20 to be remembered as a tradition for all who have remained in touch or who have had a connection with SAI in any way,” said Anjum. “The whole point is to give our students the feeling of owning this institution.”
Unlike most traditional high school principals, Anjum is a friend to all his students. “He knows the names of all 410 students like the back of his hand,” said a faculty member, Syed Anwar-ul-Haq.
But the true test of the pudding lies in the students. “I like the discipline of this institute very much, but at times I feel I am being over-disciplined,” remarked Abdul Hafeez Suriya, a second year pre-engineering student. To this Anjum replied politely, “Despite everything, we are very particular about three things and can’t compromise on them - behaviour, attendance and grades.”
The students acted out a small skit on electricity shortages in an accurate portrayal of the government’s dependence on the World Bank and its laxity in making use of energy resources. As if on cue, the electricity went out in the middle of the performance. The power outage did not, however, detract from the act’s impact.
A second skit was a interpretation of Anarkali, who is now on Facebook. But when her ‘Shahzada Saleem’ enters the SAI as a high school freshman, his studies become his ‘beloved’.
“We should attempt to inculcate the right kind of values in our children so that they believe that they can do anything,” said Anjum.
The next act proved that Anjum has perhaps achieved his goal to some extent. Much to the surprise of his fellow students, shy little Muhammad Zahid came to the stage to perform a song. Judging by the tumultuous applause from the audience, he did it justice.
Former information minister and media analyst Javed Jabbar was the chief guest. “Today’s presentations and skits conveyed to me the very sensibilities of SAI’s students,” he said. “It’s commendable that in a span of just seven years, SAI has started to develop such tremendous qualities in its students, which are evident by the atmosphere.”
Jabbar also presided over the ceremonious opening of the third annual bilingual students’ magazine.
At the end of the day, scholarships were awarded to 27 students who achieved over 85 per cent in their first year of intermediate exams.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2011.
Balloons and drapes, all in a combination of red and white, adorned the stage and ambient music echoed down Sir Adamjee Institute’s (SAI) auditorium.
Federal B Area, near Hussainabad, houses predominately hardworking middle class people. It was here that the SAI shaped a plan to create an intermediate programme, with just 27 students. That was seven years ago.
Today, SAI is now educating 410 students with the same motto as when it started - to educate and empower the middle class. The institute’s academic management is overseen by Commecs Educational Trust.
“At only Rs3,500 per month, we endeavour to provide our students with an environment as good as the colleges located in Defence Housing Authority,” said principal Najeeb Anjum who has served in Pakistan Navy for a good part of his life and is a retired Commodore.
“I want September 20 to be remembered as a tradition for all who have remained in touch or who have had a connection with SAI in any way,” said Anjum. “The whole point is to give our students the feeling of owning this institution.”
Unlike most traditional high school principals, Anjum is a friend to all his students. “He knows the names of all 410 students like the back of his hand,” said a faculty member, Syed Anwar-ul-Haq.
But the true test of the pudding lies in the students. “I like the discipline of this institute very much, but at times I feel I am being over-disciplined,” remarked Abdul Hafeez Suriya, a second year pre-engineering student. To this Anjum replied politely, “Despite everything, we are very particular about three things and can’t compromise on them - behaviour, attendance and grades.”
The students acted out a small skit on electricity shortages in an accurate portrayal of the government’s dependence on the World Bank and its laxity in making use of energy resources. As if on cue, the electricity went out in the middle of the performance. The power outage did not, however, detract from the act’s impact.
A second skit was a interpretation of Anarkali, who is now on Facebook. But when her ‘Shahzada Saleem’ enters the SAI as a high school freshman, his studies become his ‘beloved’.
“We should attempt to inculcate the right kind of values in our children so that they believe that they can do anything,” said Anjum.
The next act proved that Anjum has perhaps achieved his goal to some extent. Much to the surprise of his fellow students, shy little Muhammad Zahid came to the stage to perform a song. Judging by the tumultuous applause from the audience, he did it justice.
Former information minister and media analyst Javed Jabbar was the chief guest. “Today’s presentations and skits conveyed to me the very sensibilities of SAI’s students,” he said. “It’s commendable that in a span of just seven years, SAI has started to develop such tremendous qualities in its students, which are evident by the atmosphere.”
Jabbar also presided over the ceremonious opening of the third annual bilingual students’ magazine.
At the end of the day, scholarships were awarded to 27 students who achieved over 85 per cent in their first year of intermediate exams.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2011.