RIYADH, 14 June 2007 — A fine arts teacher of the International Indian School Riyadh (IISR) has resigned to protest the “violation of CBSE rules” by the school.

In her resignation letter, Razia Zaidi said CBSE regulations were violated by the principal in charge and vice principal of the girls’ section.

She told Arab News that the arts question paper used to be sent out of the examination hall that was a clear violation of the CBSE rules.

Manzar Jamal Siddiqui, the school’s principal, could not be reached for comment but Mrs. Zeenat Jafri, principal in charge of the girls’ section, expressed her surprise saying she was not aware of Razia’s resignation. Razia had confirmed she had sent a copy of her resignation letter to India’s Ambassador M.O.H. Farook in his capacity as the patron of IISR.

She said her resignation had become inevitable in view of the mental torture she had been going through for the past five months.

Razia, the only teacher in the school who had qualified for the prestigious National Educational Test (NET) conducted by the University Grants Commission, hails from a distinguished family that includes Padma Shree Amir Raza Hussain, a renowned personality of English theater, who staged “The Legend of Ram” and “50 Day (Kargil) War.”

She said it had become difficult for her to continue working under the circumstances. “The demand of the vice principal of the girls’ section to make dozens of greeting cards for guests and the chief guest when a function is organized undermined the performance of an arts teacher, when she is expected to teach and train over 180 students every day,” she said.

Referring to a memo that accuses her of dereliction of duty, she said she had discharged her duties diligently.

She said: “I was awarded dozens of appreciation letters during my first tenure of eight years in this school. During this period I also made eight huge paintings, which still adorn the walls of the boys’ and girls’ sections.

“These canvasses, made under the scorching heat of summer vacation, testify to my artistic caliber and underline my spirit of service and dedication to the school. Now suddenly I have been accused of neglecting my duty.”

Razia said she was not given a patient hearing when she tried to defend herself against the charges of negligence of duty.