IISD celebrates 30th Foundation Day

The International Indian School in Dammam (IISD) celebrated the 30th year of its foundation with a series of well-choreographed cultural programs.
Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, his wife Asiya Hamid, Managing Committee Chairman Thirunavukkarassu K.M., senior representatives from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education, Indian Embassy’s Ashok Warrier, Principal E.K. Mohammed Shaffe, Higher Board member S.U. Rahman, Girls Section Principal in Charge Lt. Col. J.A. Rocque, Registrar Gangesh Tiwari, members of the managing committee and prominent Indians attended the event.
Established in 1982 with 250 students and 15 teachers, the school has become one of the largest in the region with a current strength of 16,000 students and more than 850 teachers.
The ambassador appreciated the school’s achievements on the academic front as reflected in the recent board examination as well as its topnotch performance in the recent Cluster Meet and CBSE Nationals in India.
Rao said a detailed and official guideline is being formulated to streamline the functioning of the higher board that governs the international Indian schools in the Kingdom.
“Unified regulations will be implemented in all Indian community schools regarding employment of teachers and their service rules,” he said.
“My foremost obligation is to safeguard the interests of the parents and the Indian community,” he said. “I don’t interfere in the day-to-day functioning of the school.”
Rao congratulated the newly elected managing committee which is headed by Thirunavukkarassu and includes Abdulla Manjeri, Hakeem Dowla, Mohammed Farooque, Shamshad Ahmed, Khurshid Anwer and Raju Kurian.
The school chairman detailed the new managing committee’s many achievements. Thirunavukkarassu highlighted the implementation of the online facility for payment of school fee, the decision to recruit competent faculty from India for deployment at the senior sections, establishment of the “grievance cell” to attend to parents complaints and demands without delay and upgrading of the computer labs with high-tech machines.
“For the last six months, our focus was on streamlining and improving the academic facilities, and beefing up administration and finance departments,” he said. “However, some critical issues such as contract renewal of the girls school building, transportation contract and school integrated software system have diverted our attention,” he said. “We are now working on long-term solutions to all these issues, so that we can concentrate exclusively on academics,” he said.
According to Thirunavukkarassu, 30 to 50 experienced teachers from India will be recruited to improve the overall quality of teaching and learning environment in secondary and senior sections. “Remedial coaching program for average and below average students is being made more intensive and rewarding,” he said.
There were colorful ceremonies in both sections of the school to celebrate the 30th anniversary. Teachers who served the institution for 10, 20 and 25 years were felicitated along with meritorious students who excelled in the recent board examinations.
Among those who received the mementos were Najma Nakhat, Geetha Mani, Tamkeen Majida, Nazeer Maniyamkulam, Sandhya Mohan, Mehru Qamar, N.M.R. Nizar, A.K. Soopy, Aliea Fathima and Mary Sabu George.
Principal Shaffe presented the annual report emphasizing the school’s achievements in both curricular and co-curricular activities. A PowerPoint presentation on the 30 years of IISD’s existence was depicted through memorable pictures and slides.
Savita George, Philip Thomas and Abdul Naffe compered the program in the Boys Section and Ruby Thomas, Christina Anto and Khadeeja Sabreen compered the event in the Girls Section.