JEDDAH, 3 March 2007 — Where there is a will there is a way. This was proved true once again by an industrious and hardworking Indian teacher in Jeddah. Sabitha Rahim of the International Indian School, Jeddah, had always dreamed of obtaining a master’s degree in English literature but having come to Saudi Arabia just after her graduation there were not many opportunities for her to realize her dream till she came across Ateico Communications. Ateico started graduation and post-graduation courses of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for expatriates, specially for women, three years ago.
Sabita managed to get not only a master’s degree but she got through the exam with flying colors. In an announcement made yesterday by IGNOU in New Delhi, Sabitha stood first in the master’s degree exam and that she has been awarded the prestigious university gold medal. She will receive the award at a ceremony to be held in New Delhi on March 17.
The news sent a wave of jubilation among expatriate Indians especially Keralites and the women community. “It was very challenging for me to study for the course, because I teach at the International Indian School and had to manage both task at the same time. But there was this will in me that I had to do it and by the grace of Allah I managed to do it.”
“Thanks to Ateico Communications, people like me can still pursue their dream by being in Saudi Arabia. Ateico has opened new vistas for expatriate women for whom educational opportunities are limited and if they are available they are few and far between,” she said.
Ateico Communications General Manager Riaz Mulla was delighted. “We are very proud of Sabitha who won this award. The most important thing is that she attained more than 70 percent in a subject in which crossing 55 percent is considered to be a milestone.
This will only reinforce the belief of other students in our courses. We have special classes for expatriate women. Our courses are not limited to Indian women. We have Somalis, Sudanese, Eritreans and even Pakistanis enrolled with us,” he said.
According to Sabitha, the advantage with IGNOU is that students can take the exams at the Indian Consulate General in Jeddah or at the examination centers in Riyadh and Dammam. Sabitha is a frequent contributor to Arab News’ Kerala Page and she is well-liked at the school. Members of the Kerala community have congratulated her on this achievement.
