RIYADH, 20 April 2008 — Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee laid the foundation stone of the new Delhi Public School here yesterday evening during a glittering ceremony organized at the construction site. The event was attended by a large number of Saudi officials, more than 1,000 parents and teachers, a number of Indian community members, Saudi and expatriate guests and DPS students.
Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee recalled his deep association with DPS chain of schools, lauding the efforts of DPS Society Chairman Salman Khurshid in particular.
“The decision to establish DPS in Riyadh is a landmark decision taken by its patrons and I am sure it will cater to the needs of children in Saudi Arabia and that it will impart quality education,” he said.
Mukherjee also spoke about the growing relation between Saudi Arabia and India. The foundation-laying ceremony was attended by Khurshid, Indian Ambassador M.O.H. Farook, DPS Managing Committee Chairman Nadeem Tarin, Principal Mairaj M. Khan, Darrusalam International School Chairman Ibrahim Al-Qauid, DPS Director Akhtar Hussain Siddiqui and Director of Administration and Finance Abad Khan.
In his speech, Khurshid pledged to offer highest quality education to the students. “The DPS is now headed by Mairaj M. Khan, a new principal, who will set out new vision for this Riyadh school,” he said.
Tarin said the school currently has a cumulative enrollment of 1,300 students under the guidance of 100 teachers. He also announced the commencement of eleventh grade courses from the current academic year.
Speaking on behalf of the school, Tarin said: “It is a great opportunity for DPS Riyadh to welcome Mukherjee and Khurshid, who have been associated with this great institution.” He added that the DSP society was an international nonprofit, nonproprietary educational body recognized for its progressive approach and commitment to excellence.
“The traditional pursuit of excellence in the field of education by the Delhi Public School Society of Delhi was ingrained with the Darussalam International School to germinate an institution that provided the best of Indian education in Saudi Arabia,” said Al-Qauid, while giving a vote of thanks. “The journey so far has been successful,” he said. The students of the DPS have excelled in their academic accomplishment and with the first group taking their board exams, the school has achieved its desired growth.
“Being magnanimous in their ideals, the patrons of the Darussalam International Delhi Public School, Riyadh, Nadeem Tarin, Mukhtarul Amin and Ibrahim Al Quaid have seen to it that the school is provided with the best of facilities to help its students march toward the goals of character development and academic excellence,” said Principal Mairaj Khan.
“With education as its primary goal, the school has also achieved a lot in other fields as well,” said Khan, adding that the overall development of the student is not relegated behind academic excellence.
