JEDDAH, 23 May — A monthslong talent competition organized by the local chapter of the Muslim Educational Society (MES), a non-profit organization in India, was a motivating experience for both Indian school students and parents here.

“The MES program gave us a good platform to show off our talent and express our opinions. It gave me a lot of confidence,” Jyotsana Kumar, who won the top prize in the competition for Grade XII schoolgirls, told Arab News.

The comment by Jyotsana, a student of the International Indian School, Jeddah, (IISJ), highlighted the general lack of such platforms in the Kingdom, especially for Indian students who want to develop their talents.

“We need more of these kinds of educational contests,” Jyotsana said, and urged other students to make use of them whenever they did take place. Her father Ashok Kumar, secretary of the Indian consul general in Jeddah, supported her view: “Such events should be organized more often.”

This is for the second consecutive year MES, a cultural organization of Indian expatriates, have held the general talent competition (GTC). About 4,500 Indian students from various schools took part in the screening test. Contests were later held in three stages in the areas of geography, essay writing, elocution and stage performance.

The program has been widely acknowledged by both parents and students as they believed that the contests will help students prepare for entrance tests to get seats at professional colleges in India and elsewhere. IISJ students grabbed the top honors.

Faraz Hussein, who was named the most talented boy in the senior secondary category, with Sarun Selvanesan and Momen Abdul Rasheed coming second and third respectively, described the event as stimulating. “It needs more exposure to ensure the participation of more students,” he told Arab News. In the girls’ section, Jyotsana pushed her rivals Kameerath Abdul Kareem and Angela Cherian into second and third positions.

Mohammad Hassan Ali Khan, who won the trophy for the most talented boy in the secondary category for the second time this year, was enthused.

“It was really great. MES gave us a large platform to prove our capabilities,” he told Arab News. He was certain that he would benefit from the competition in his future career and performances.

His father, Muhammad Reza, branch manager of Thimar Al-Jazirah company, said MES officials had worked hard to organize the competition.

“Compared to last year, there was a lot of improvement, both in terms of programs and time management,” he added.

MES President Dr. Abdullah Moopen hinted at more changes in the GTC format for next year.

Asked about prospects of non-Indian students participating in the event, Rahim Bakker, special project officer, said the matter was under consideration.

In the secondary boys’ category, Ejaz Ibrahim and Adel Rashid won second and third places. In the girls’ section, Nazila Muhammad Nizar upstaged Zenobia Imtiaz and Fazal Ashreen Taj to be crowned as the most talented girl.

In the upper primary boys’ category, Rejaul Kareem claimed the top place followed by Aamir Anees and Tameem Khan. Meera Christopher was the most talented girl in the same category, while Hafsa Fatma and Shamia Nizar came second and third respectively.

Students of IISJ, Al-Wurood and Al-Hayat actively took part in the competition. However, a number of students complained that they had received neither adequate support nor encouragement from their schools.

“Last year they honored the winners at the assembly meetings. But this year they did not. We expect greater support from our schools and teachers,” one student told Arab News.

Geoff Darlison, principal of the Continental School, gave away the shields, certificates and gold medals to the winners.