N.U. Abdul Razzak Udayar
The only Muslim school of the Nattandiya electorate, Zahira College that is located in the heart of Nattandiya town in the Puttalam district has turned 80 the other day and it is on a forward march under the astute leadership its principal Mr. Azmee Hussain, an English graduate and a product of the English Teachers’ Training College of Peradeniya. A special magazine named “Amutha Vila Chirappu Malar” was launched to mark this momentous occasion of this type 2 school that has the strength 200 students and 20 teachers. It is interesting to look at the history of this mixed school that caters to majority of Muslim students and a minority of Tamil children in Nattandiya. This school had its inception at a small building of the Nattandiya Sinhala School on 5th January 1942 with 5 students under the name of Nattandiya Muslim Vidyalaya. Late C.M.S. Mohammed has the distinction of being the first principal of this fast-developing school. The school was functioning as the Sinhala and Tamil mixed school till 1960 under different principals. When late Baddudden Mahmood was the Minister of Education it was separated as Nattandiya Muslim Mixed School for it to achieve the educational aspirations of the Muslim Community of this region.
The year 2011 was an unforgettable day for this educational centre as it was renamed as Nattandiya Zahira College under guidance of its principal Mr. M. H. M. Hazari who has been the principal of this institution from 2002 to 2011. His period was a remarkable and impressive age as this school got many facilities and made achievements in education in an unprecedented manner.
Then the golden period of Zahira dawned as Mr. Azmee Hussain who assumed duties on 08.04.2015 as the head of this institution has been the live wire of the school promoting education and sports. Zahira that had classes up to Gr.9 until 2021 got the green light to have the classes up to Gr.11. The major mile stone of the school under him was the first ever GCE O/L class sitting for the O/L national examination. The icing on the cake was that a student out of 7 candidates got 9As. The Pass percentage was 80%. Amna Ariff was the brilliance of the school that shone in O/L in 2022 with the flying colours.The scholarship results too have improved a lot. Today Zahira has got several facilities such as a mini lab, computers, Science laboratory, prayer room, renovated children’s park and all other basic requirements. Mr. Azmee Hussain is a tower of strength and a guiding star to this fast-developing school that has the vision of producing a talented younger generation via the provision of a good education.
