Home Economics College
Home Economics College was established in Dhaka in 1961 by the then East Pakistan Government in cooperation with Ford Foundation and Oklahama State University of the United States to develop a female profession-based educational institution. Initially it started functioning as an affiliated college under the science faculty of Dhaka University and later it was brought under the Biological Science Faculty. The university used to supervise the academic aspects, whereas the East Pakistan Government coordinated the financial matters. The syllabus of graduation course and instruction sheets were prepared following the courses of Dhaka University, Lahore Home Economics College and Karachi Home Economics College. The Dean of Home Economics Department, Oklahama State University discharged the responsibility of the academic director of the college as the representative of Ford Foundation. At present Dhaka University and the Ministry of Education is carrying out the responsibilities jointly.
At the outset, the college offered intermediate and graduation courses. From 1963, post-graduation programmes were introduced. In 1973, beside graduation and post-graduation programmes, honours course in Home Economics was introduced. From 1985-86 session, instead of that integrated Home Economics Honours Course, honours courses in newly created five departments were introduced. The departments, Food and Nutrition, House Keeping and Housing, Child Development and Social Relations, Applied Fine Arts and Textile, Costume and Weaving, were created to keep similarity with the standard and volume of course contents of other developed and developing nations and to fulfill the growing demand. Like Dhaka University four-year degree honours courses and one-year post graduation courses in these disciplines were introduced here from 2002-2003 session. Girl students are selected in honours courses through competitive admission test and on the basis of merit list as per rule of Dhaka University. Students received theoretical, practical and research-oriented education in all the five departments. One object was to prepare each of them eligible for their own family, society and profession beside their individual improvement. As a result, the five subjects of Home Economics College create job opportunities for female students.
The students of Food and Nutrition Department acquire knowledge on Community Nutrition, Therapeutic Nutrition, Public Health and Nutrition, Dietetics, Higher Nutrition Science, Research, Food Science, Food Chemistry etc for becoming professional Nutritionlists and Dieticians in hospitals and nutrition related institutions. Moreover, students qualified from this department can make their career as teachers, dieticians, menu planners and catering managers in public and private organisations at community, national and international levels.
A student of Child Development and Social Relations disciplines is taught the ways and means to assess the individual need of every baby for rearing up him or her as a best potential resource. She acquired knowledge and competency to engage herself in all national and international organisations for the welfare of children including their physical, mental and intellectual growth and for ensuring child rights. Besides they get jobs to render services in the fields of Child Counselling, Policy formulation, Early Childhood Development Programme, Social problems of children and Mother and Child Health Care.
Traditional arts, design, weaving, printing, pottery, jute goods making etc are taught in the Applied Fine Arts Department. Students after completing education in this discipline are provided in all sorts of educational institutions, social service organisations, cottage industries, pottery homes, handloom production centres and other concerned design centres.
Exceptionally, students of Textile, Costume and Weaving Department do not run after jobs, as their professional education skill and excellence tend them to be self-employed.
A large number of girl students from all over the country including far-flung areas as well as Dhaka metropolis want to get admission in this specialized college. At present, there are five thousand students and sixty teachers in this college. The students also take part in cultural programmes, sports meet, girls in Rover and BNCC Core apart from classroom activities programme. [Laila Arjumand Banu] [Banu, Laila Arjumand Principal, Home Economics College, Dhaka]
