DAMMAM, 27 February 2005 — The new building of Indian International School Dammam is a standing monument of technical flaws, an unplanned structure unprofessionally executed, according to parents who think their children’s life is at risk.
It is learned that a contractor was assigned the task of building it — rather controversially with a case being filed against the school in the Shariah court-with no details of specifications. The school did not have an architect to design or a consultant to make specifications or monitor the contractor.
Parents complain that all building norms and codes, including safety norms, have been blatantly violated. With absolutely no technical specifications or drawings in hand, the school advertised, received bids and awarded the contract with no regard for evaluation benchmarks, they charge.
Parents ask if the building is safe for the next 30 years. What is more amazing to the parents is the fact that the school is going to pay around SR2.2 million per year in rent for the building. To top it all, after the first year, the maintenance of the building will be the responsibility of school.
It was reported that at one stage the school management realized its folly and formed a parents committee of professionals — who were handpicked by the managing committee members — to monitor the construction. However, the contractor was reportedly not amused and thus the committee’s work was hampered.
It is learned that the contractor violated the basic specification that was given to him. The result is smaller classrooms than specified.
Among other issues that dog the school is the arbitrary way the janitorial contract has been handled. The way the minutes of meetings are being juggled is another cause of worry for the parents.
Elections for the school managing committee are round the corner. “We expect that the outgoing committee should at least give a brief of their activities and achievements prior to their departure‚ says Akhtar Hasnain, a concerned parent.
