JEDDAH, 17 November 2006 — International Indian School-Jeddah (IISJ) won the overall championship at various events held as part of the 16th principals’ conference and cluster meet for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)-affiliated schools of Saudi Arabia.
The prize distribution ceremony was held at the IISJ auditorium yesterday. In all 15 Indian schools from across the Kingdom took part in various sports and debating competitions.
The runner-up school was International Indian School-Riyadh (IISR). International Indian School-Dammam took third place. The schools respectively totaled 648, 460 and 408 points at various events in which their students took part.
Dr. Mohamed Qari, vice dean at King Abdul Aziz University, the chief guest, and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, former principal of Manarat International School, the guest of honor, distributed prizes to winning schools and individuals.
The meet was conducted in two phases, according to Ghouse Mohiuddin, its organizing secretary. Badminton championship was conducted in September, because of the early schedule of this event at the zonal level in Dubai this month. Tournaments and competitions in table tennis, basketball, athletics and debate were conducted from Nov. 13 till yesterday.
In all 278 boys and 160 girls took part in various events. Athletics for boys were conducted at Al-Ittihad Stadium and all other events at the IISJ premises. In athletics, a total of 58 heats and finals were conducted, while in table tennis 90 matches were played by boys and girls. The athletic championship was extended to Under-14 girls for the first time. All champions of different events will take part at the CBSE’s national competitions set in India in December — table tennis in Bombay, basketball in Ajmer and athletics in Jamshedpur.
The cluster meet kicked off on Tuesday, with Indian Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed unfurling the CBSE flag in the presence of hundreds of students and teachers of various Indian schools from the Kingdom. “The cluster meet provides a useful platform for the principals to share their views and develop and improve the standard of their institutions,” he said.
IISJ Principal M.S. Rahman, the chairman of the meet who gave the welcome address, said: “The cluster meet is about ‘coming together, being together and walking together.’ It inculcates values like sportsman spirit, leadership quality, self-discipline and other qualities and disciplines.”
Dr. Mohammed Ijaz, principal of Al Warood International School, the convener of the cluster meet, outlined the purpose of the event.
A march past by the participating schools and a drill display by the children of different blocks of the local school highlighted the opening ceremony. A variety entertainment show followed, with the students of the host school trumpeting the message of ‘Unity in diversity.’ A music program by 70 children and a session of poems by budding poets also formed part of the ceremony. The message of patriotism was conveyed by 35 young boys through a fusion dance.
