STS School

Minto Circle, officially Syedna Tahir Saifuddin High School (S.T.S. High School), is a semi residential high school under Aligarh Muslim University at Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. The school was established as "Mohammedan Anglo Oriental Collegiate School" by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875, which later evolved as Aligarh Muslim University. It is one of the five high schools run by the university.

History

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Senior Section and main administrative building

Minto Circle is a school which was founded in 1875 by the educationist and social reformer, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. The foundation stone of school was laid down by a closest associate of Sir Syed, Maulvi Sami Ullah Khan, Secretary of the College Fund Committee, on May 24, 1875. Its original name was the "Mohammedan Anglo Oriental Collegiate School". The School grew in M.A.O. College in 1877 which in 1920 became the Aligarh Muslim University by an act of the Central Legislature. The School the bore the name, Muslim University High School, but became popular as Minto Circle after the then Viceroy of India, Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto (1845-1914), who generously funded the construction for it's new buildings. In 1966, the school was named after the then Chancellor Syedna Tahir Saifuddin, and hence forth known as S.T.S. High School.

Schooling

In the beginning the School was divided into two sections. Its primary section was kept at “Zahoor Ward” (presently Arabic Department) and the building of Old Guest House. After passing class IV, the students were promoted to its senior section in Minto Circle. The School, a Muslim minority institution, attached to the Aligarh Muslim University, aims primarily at the education of the Muslim Community. Admission, however, is open to children of all communities without distinction of caste and creed. The character building and assimilation of religious and moral principles are of chief concern and no pains are spared to inculcate habits of truth and honesty. The School demands discipline, good behavior and total obedience of the rules and regulations from the students. The School has an all India and all denominational membership. There is provision for nearly three hundred students to reside in the hostels within the School Campus. The total strength of the school is around two thousand students. The School provides ample facilities for the development of an integrated personality. It has a fine, library, playing ground for outdoor games, facilities for playing volleyball, basketball, within the School campus, and a common room. Academic excellence is pursued along with games and extracurricular activities, with the aim of providing education par excellence. The school has invested in a Computer Laboratory with the latest software/ languages and other technology facilities. The alumni of the School have distinguished themselves in many walks of life, both in India and abroad.

Notable alumni

• Lala Amarnath, Independent India's first Test captain
• Zafar Iqbal, Former Indian Hockey Captain
• Javed Akhtar, Famous Bollywood script writer and lyricist
• Talat Mahmood, Bollywood playback singer and actor
• Ayub Khan, President of Pakistan
• Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Former vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and current vice-president of India
• Dr Farhan Mujeeb, Artist and Professor of Physics
• Dr Khizer Saeed, Oxford University Alumini and Professor in Energy Systems, United Kingdom