A graduation ceremony was held for Class IV students of Raiganj Girls’ Primary School on Monday morning, with the programme on the lines of a university convocation drawing applause from various quarters.
Gouranga Chauhan, the teacher-in-charge of the state-aided school, said it was an attempt at holistic development of the students.
“Ours is a 91-year-old institution and one of the best primary schools in North Dinajpur district. We always make efforts to make our students excel not only academically but also in sports and cultural activities,” he said.
The school, he said, has 654 students and 19 teachers.
“We hosted this unique graduation ceremony as we wanted to bid them farewell in a memorable manner and replicated the convocation ceremonies organised in universities,” added Chauhan.
Around 8.30am, students, teachers and parents congregated at the institution where a dais was decorated with flowers and balloons.
The ceremony started on a traditional note, with children singing an inaugural song. However, the mood soon shifted when a group of students performed KK’s iconic song 'Hum Rahe Ya Na Rahe Kal'.
The audience, including teachers and parents, joined in, their voices mingling with the music.
The ceremony continued with academic achievers taking centre stage. The top three performers in the fourth-standard exams— Ritika Bose, Sayantika Sutradhar, and Neha Barman — were awarded trophies, along with graduation caps and robes.
One by one, all 120 Class IV students were invited onto the stage to receive their graduation caps, robes, medals, and gifts, which included school bags, notebooks, and pens.
The school also celebrated students’ all-round development by giving out awards for cultural and sports achievements. Even parents were recognised, with one proud guardian receiving the Guardian of the Year award.
The farewell concluded with a touching group dance to the song “Bye Bye Everybody”.
Students, parents and teachers danced together and some students scribbled messages and autographs on their school uniforms, preserving memories of their last day.
Ritika Bose, one of the students, sounded excited. “I am moving to a new school but I will miss everything about this place, friends, teachers, and the memories. Today’s ceremony was like a dream coming true.”
Kingshuk Maity, the subdivisional officer of Raiganj, appreciated the initiative.
“Such initiatives are rare in government-run schools. This effort inspires students and also highlights the potential of our educational institutions,” said the official.