Speaking at the concluding function of the highly successful and colorful 21st Annual Cluster Meet at the International Indian School-Jubail on Thursday, he said all the schools affiliated with India’s Central Board of Secondary Education deserve compliments for fostering a “healthy and competitive” spirit among their students.

In attendance at the event were principals and representatives of all CBSE schools. According to a rough estimate, the Indian schools are providing education to more than 60,000 children of expatriates spread across the Kingdom.

International Indian School-Dammam with 16,000 students, International Indian School-Jeddah with 12,000 students, International Indian School-Riyadh with 9,000 students and International Indian School-Jubail with 6,000 students are among the largest and oldest institutions in the Kingdom while Delhi Public School-Jeddah and Delhi Public School-Riyadh are said to be among the most prestigious ones.

The ambassador met all the principals during the event and assured them of full help from his mission. “We see the successful running and betterment of our schools, both the international ones and the private ones, as part of our duty toward our community,” Rao said. “This is part of community welfare and is the best way of helping our community because education of children is among the top priorities of the Indian expatriate community.”

Rao was impressed by the successful organization of the Cluster Meet. “I congratulate International Indian School-Jubail Chairman Ahmad Khan, Principal Syed Hameed and his teaching faculty for having done a remarkable job,” he said and described the cultural program presented by the schoolchildren at the valedictory function as “scintillating, amazing and full of energy.”

“Such annual meetings give an opportunity to principals, teachers and students of different CBSE-affiliated schools in the Kingdom to come together on one common platform, share their experiences, understand each other better, and engage themselves in a healthy and competitive environment,” he said.

“What I witnessed in the cultural program in Jubail school was the youth, the energy and the confidence which symbolizes the India of today … These are the elements which make us believe that we are going in the right direction and that we have a bright future, our country has a bright future, our countrymen have a bright future,” Rao said.

Chairman Khan was pleased with the successful organization of the event. “Our school and our excellent and highly professional teachers have successfully demonstrated what we all can achieve through hard work and team spirit,” he said.

A doctorate in mathematics from Aligarh Muslim University, Khan has been teaching at Jubail Industrial College for a long time. As an elected chairman, he has put the Jubail school on the path of academic excellence. “We have given our Principal Hameed, Vice-Principals Naushad Ali and Zahra Malik and all teachers full support to help realize the true potential of our students,” he said, and thanked the Indian ambassador for attending. “He has inspired us all to give our best at all times, and we will.”

First Secretary at the Indian Embassy Ashok Warrier, Dammam University’s Dr. Parveen Rasheed, Jubail Industrial College English Language Center Director Mohammad M. Al-Fakih and Senior Lecturer Abdul Lateef Campbell attended the event.