To coincide with the auspicious occasion of Eid el Ghadeer, the
extension of Al Muntazir Nursery School operating under CBE of KSI Jamaat of
Dar es Salaam was opened in Dar es Salaam on 3rd March 2002. This
school has a capacity to house up to 950 children in 22 classrooms.
The school which was first registered under Ithna-Asheri Union was known as
Union Nursery School which started in 1956 at the old Dar es Salaam Jamaat
office at Asia Street. It was in the 70s the School was moved to the Boarding
House along United Nations Road where one wing was occupied by the Seminary
Secondary School. The President of Ithna-Asheri Union at the time was late
Alhaj Abbas Jaffer Alloo who had a brilliant foresight and determination to
bring up the standard of Union Nursery School, by the grace of Allah (s.w.t.)
this was achieved. The School grew in size along with number of students,
likewise the performance of the School also improved rapidly. The long serving
headmistress of the Nursery School was Mrs. Batul Jaffer whose efficient
administration made the Nursery School as one of the best in Dar es Salaam.
Under the leadership of Alhaj Aliraza K. Rajani, then the President of Dar es
Salaam Jamaat requested Ithna-Asheri Union to handover the School to KSI Jamaat
to become Al Muntazir Union Nursery School so that all education institutions
came under one umbrella of CBE of KSI Jamaat. Ithna-Asheri Union members at
their AGM consented the move, this was in the 80s.
As the school grew, it was felt necessary to have suitable location for the
Nursery School. The new school was therefore built under the auspices of
CBE of KSI Jamaat of Dar es Salaam near Muhimbili Hospital on a plot donated by
Alhaj Mustafabhai Kassamali Nasser in 2001.
The opening ceremony commenced with recitation of the Holy Qur’an and Hadith e
Kissa to bless the occasion. The Master of Ceremony, Br. Mushtaq Damji briefly
outlined the history of the school following which CBE Chairman, Alhaj
Habibbhai Virani addressed the gathering of over 150 people that included
various dignitaries.
He thanked the donor of the plot, Alhaj Mustafabhai Kassamali Nasser for his
philanthropic gesture and the building would be called the Ashrafbai memorial
Building in memory of his late wife.
The President of Dar es Salaam Jamaat, Alhaj Asgherbhai Bharwani also thanked
Alhaj Mustafabhai for his kind gesture, the plot had also been acquired to
serve as a playground for school children. He thanked Alhaj Mehboob bhai Versi
for donating half the cost of that plot.
He said that in following with the teachings of the Holy Quran and Ahadiths of
our Aimmah (a.s.) the Jamaat has given education a high priority.
After the speeches, Alhaj Mustafabhai Nasser unveiled the curtained plaque to
endorse the official opening of the school. Thereafter salat was offered prior
to lunch being served.
Below are some of the photographs of the students of the school provided by the kind courtesy of Mrs. Sayyedah Manji, current Principal of Al Muntazir Union Nursery School:
Source: Dar Samachar Volume 1 Issue No. 2 of April 2002/Safar 1403AH
Article preparedby Murtaza Jivraj (Kerbala)
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12th June 2020 (20th Shawwal 1441 AH)