ILMA International Girls’ School celebrates 30 years of excellence
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Ilma International Girls’ School is the leading private Muslim girls’ school in the country. Situated along Thalakotuwa Gardens in Colombo 05, it boasts of a lower Primary, Middle and Senior School. The school possesses all the facilities capable of providing a substantial holistic education to Muslim girls in Sri Lanka whilst preserving the values and virtues of Islam.
Ilma was founded by the late. Madam Rasheedha Mohideen, a leading lady in the sphere of education who was the Chief Education Officer of the Sri Lankan Education Service and also the Chief Educationist in one of the leading Islamic schools in Abu Dhabi (UAE). Ilma was her mission. Her vision depicted Muslim girls educated just like every other girl in this nation and taking the world by storm. Her aim was “To provide an effective and meaningful education for girls for higher intellectual attainments while conforming to the tenets of Islam.”
Realizing this dream, in the year 1987, Mrs. Mohideen spearheaded this tedious task of establishing this girls’ school. Finally, on January 18, 1988, the foundation of her legacy was laid down on the soil of Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 07 with the motto. “Qul, Rabbi ZidniIlma” – “Say! O My Lord, Advance me in knowledge
Initially the Board of Management of Ilma International Girls’ School consisted of three efficient individuals who helped raise the institution to what it is today. They were: Chairman – (late) A.H.L.A. Saleem
Working Director – (late) Mr. Mohideen
Working Director and Principal – (Late) Mrs. RasheedhaMohideen
In January 1989 The Ilma Educational Trust was created with, these three eminent persons as Trustees, having as one of its objects “to take over the ownership with the assets and liabilities and manage and control ILMA INTERNATIONAL GIRLS’ SCHOOL .” which was then situated at No. 33, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. In May of that year this charitable trust was incorporated as Ilma Educational Foundation ( IEF), a Company limited by guarantee, under the Companies Act No.17 of 1982, with 9 members. The 9 founder members of IEF were (late) Mr. A. H. L. A. Saleem, (late) Mr. M. S. Alif, (late) Justice A. M. M. Jameel, (late) Mr. M. A. S. M. Mohideen, (late) Mr. M. S. Moujood, (late) Dr. M. M. Uwise, Dr. M. A. M. Shukri, and Mr. Osman Kassim.
The Ilma Educational Foundation is a not-for -profit organization, has been headed by many eminent personalities including Late Mr. A. H. L A. Saleem, Late Justice A.M.M Jameel, Mr. Mohamed Zubair, Mr. Jawid Yusuf, Mrs. Husni Hussain and the current chairman Mr. Ishrat Rauff.
In just 2 years, Ilma International Girls’ School grew in leaps and bounds. In the year 1990, the land that the school is currently standing on, was purchased. By the following year in the 130 perch land stood a 3-storey structure, the new and improved Ilma International Girls’ School, Colombo 05. It was also in 1991 that Ilma unveiled its first batch of Ordinary Level students. There were 7 students in all, under the Edexcel Board of Examinations.
Although Ilma International Girls’ School was advancing at a remarkable pace, it was still a sapling. The year 1992 was an eventful year with Ilma International Girls’ School having its inaugural prize giving.
With the demand of educating girls increasing, it was necessary for Ilma International Girls’ School to expand. It opened doors for girls of all communities. The year 1993 saw a new wing being constructed for the Primary School with the purchasing of another plot of land adjoining the school. The following year (1994) revealed IlmaInternational Girls’ School’s First Advanced Level batch. All praise due to God, IlmaInternational Girls’ School had achieved maturity.
Ilma International Girls’ School reached its 10th birthday in the year 1998. What was once a mere 140 students was now a booming 1500. What was 16 teachers with 11 classrooms was now 112 teachers and 63 classroomsrespectively!
Soon after, the Ilma International Old Girls’ Association (IIOGA) was formed. The IIOGA has been instrumental in organizing the pre- Ramadan fair which has now become an annual event.
The dawn of the new millennium brought in the first batch of students to have completed their entire education at Ilma International Girls’ School. Brave and courageous would not do justice in describing these students, who took their chances to seek their academic guidance at a place as new as Ilma which was situated in WijeramaMawatha. Those who joined at Pre- Grade Level sat for their Advanced Level examinations that year.
2001, a year later, saw the introduction of the new air-conditioned main hall, curtsey of the IIOGA, which was soon certified as a London Examinations Centre. This was also the time when Ilma International Girls’ School first introduced Local A/ L’s. Students could now choose their own paths. The provision of options and choices within the school coloured its poster of popularity among the public.
The growth spurt continued. It was time that the Primary School was separated from the Senior School. And so, 2002 called for a fourth block, which initiated this separation.
The main hall certified for London Examinations was integral for the school. But yet, that wasn’t entirely enough. London Examinations (the science stream) required laboratories in order to conduct practical examinations. Basically, without the labs, the school was incomplete. Realizing this, Ilma International Girls’ School opened up 3 laboratories: a Biology lab, a Physics lab and a Chemistry lab. In June 2003, the London Advanced Level examination practicals were conducted in the new Physics and Chemistry labs.
This was also the year Ilma International Girls’ School had arrived at a point where one Awards Day clearly wasn’t enough to award its students within the time limits of 1 day. Talents of students could not be ignored and Ilma seemed to be brimming with just that. Therefore, 2003 inaugurated the hosting of 2 Awards Days: 1 for the Primary School and 1 for the Senior School.
Demand for attention in the literary department grew. A part of the school that wasn’t really heeded to thus far, but yet was a vital unit for the academic growth, was now given attention. In 2006 the senior library of Ilma International Girls’ School now expanded to 3 huge rooms filled with books, from books of fiction to books of reference. Magazines, newspapers, books of Islamic guidance and everything within the wants of a reader’s mind was available in the Senior library of Ilma.
The year of 2010 called for a big change. The students of Ilma who had been sitting for public examinations under the Examining Board of Edexcel from the very inception of the School changed to a new examination body; the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) and 2010 saw the first batch of Ordinary Level students sitting for their examinations.
With the transition taking place a fully equipped physics, chemistry and biology lab was introduced for practicals catering to Cambridge requirements. Today we boast of Ilma International School being an examination centre giving our children the opportunity to sit for their examination within the comfort of their school.
Adding to obtaining a holistic education, the students of Ilma decided to show case their talents on the netball court.
Dwelling on the matter of the court, in 2011 Ilma International Girls’ School now decided to host a netball tournament of their own. Up against some of the very prestigious schools of Colombo, held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Ilma girls once ag ain rose as the “CHAMPIONS” of the day!
This tournament, which has been successfully organized annually by the school since, is now firmly established as the main Netball Tournament for international schools and has been placed on the sports calendar of The International Schools of Sri Lanka ( TISSL). In January 2013, Ilma celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a grand event at the BMICH Canopy Hall, hosted jointly by the School and the Old Girls’ Association, showcasing Ilma’s achievements over the past twenty five years. Students past and present, parents, teachers, as well as special invitees attended this momentous occasion, which was graced by the founder Late Madam Rasheedha Mohideen. The 25th Anniversary Magazine was released and the new website of the School was launched at this event. This event was proceeded by a series of concerts by the students of the Primary ( Splash of Lights) and the Post Primary (Spectrum) which were held at the Bishop’s College Auditorium over a period of three days. The celebrations culminated with a Fun Fiesta, organised by the Ilma International Old Girls’ Association (IIOGA).
Ilma is proud of her past she is even more enthusiastic about her future. As the demand for admission to Ilma International Girls’ School continued to grow, a one acre land in Dehiwala was purchased for its expansion.
2018 marks the 30th anniversary of Ilma International Girls’ School. Three decades of academic success and growth since its inception, it has watered many minds with wisdom and knowledge and provided a holistic approach to train students to be better prepared to enter the competitive world. Our past and present principals led by the dynamic founder principal Late Mrs. Rasheedha Mohideen, Mrs. H. Hashim, Mrs. F.H Deen, Mrs.Hafeeza Ghori and Mrs. Fareeda.Wahab along with the dedicated staff have played the lead role in the success story of Ilma International Girls’ School.