Zahira College means excellence
Zahira is an Arabic word that translates to excellence. Zahira College Colombo is a Muslim educational institution in Sri Lanka. It was established in 1892 under the guidance of I. L. M. Abdul Aziz and Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar. It is located in the heart of the city in Maradana. Zahira is currently home to a significant population of 4500 students. The college is historic as it is on the grounds of one of the oldest mosques in Sri- Lanka. The educational pioneers believed that education is essential not only for the progress of a community but also for its survival. It was in 1905 that construction began on a two-storied building which was an addition to the school infrastructure. Zahira College was upgraded as a secondary school in 1911 and in 1913 re- named Muslim Zahira College with Mr. O. E. Martinus B. A. as its first Principal.
In 1921 under the guidance of Mr. T. B. Jayah as Principal, Zahira introduced Cadetting and sports like Rugby, Football, Boxing and Cricket that kept Zahira abreast with other leading colleges in the country.
The school is currently headed by principal, Mr. Haniffa Jiffry, who took over leadership in September 2010.
All students are able to follow either, English, Sinhala or Tamil medium; however, a majority of students follow the Sinhala medium. The school consists of an academic staff of 250. Students are able to offer any religion at their Ordinary Level examinations. Students are offered all three streams of study for the advanced levels. Zahira College is home to students from diverse religions and communities, and all students are treated in a fair manner. The school uses modern teaching techniques to delivery knowledge to the students.
Zahira College boasts of a wide variety of extra- curricular activities: Interact Club, Islamic Society, English Literary Society, ICT and Science.
The all-round development of an individual is essential for success in their lives and thus Zahira is also very strong in sports, in June of 2011, Zahira College hosted a friendly football match against the team from the Zurich International School, Switzerland. Playing against an international team was certainly a memorable experience for the students.
Recent developments of the school include the initiation of construction of a three-storied building for primary school by past- pupil, Deshabandu Prof. M. T. A. Furkhan. This building will house an ICT laboratory as well as class- rooms. In addition to the existing Science Laboratory, a new laboratory for the use of the secondary school was opened recently.
Future plans of Zahira Colle ge include, the construction of a hostel to accommodate hundred students. This will enable the school to attract brilliant students from locations away from Colombo. It has also been decided that the school will construct a multi-media room to ensure that students are able to use the latest learning equipment.
Zahira College is now on a venture to become one of the best schools in the island and they have called all past and current students to help the school in order to achieve this vision.
And finally these are the words of the Principal Mr.hanifa Jiffry, “We are doing all this to make sure that the children who have gone through the mill of Zahira have acquired many skills, such as Leadership, Communication, Information Technology, English to fortify their future. This will give them the courage to face the challenges of the world and to emerge as leaders of the world”