Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — As many as 32 principals from schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from all over the Kingdom had gathered in Jeddah for three days to chalk out a uniform calendar for the next academic year as well as to have an in-depth analysis of their academic issues and problems before coming out with their solutions. The International Indian School-Jeddah (IISJ) hosted the event held in the silver jubilee year of the formation of the Saudi Arabian Chapter of around 40 CBSE schools. The conference, with the theme of "Education for peace and development," was also followed by the second and final phase of a three-day Cluster Meet. Speaking to Saudi Gazette, several principals observed that the conference was a resounding success in achieving its desired goals. International Indian School-Riyadh (IISR) Principal and Convener of the Chapter Dr. S.M. Shaukat Perwez said the conference brainstormed to map out a uniform calendar for the next academic year, after analyzing all aspects of curriculum, which included syllabus, holidays and curricular and co-curricular activities at the Kingdom level. The best experiences of every school and teachers have been shared. "We have decided that every school will be having a special assembly session on regular basis where different cultures and languages will be showcased and promoted. We will celebrate, for example, Tamil language day during which everything related with that Dravidian language and its cultural background will be revealed. Unity in diversity will be highlighted to foster peace and nation building process." Perwez said the interaction with Somayya Jabarti, editor in chief of Saudi Gazette, was wonderful and incisive. She highlighted the need for a link between education and journalism, which is the mirror of the society. Jabarti drove home the idea that society cannot move without either of the two. She has established the fact that these two forces together can bring the revolution and change, leading to a better world. Dr. E.K. Mohammad Shaffe, principal of International Indian School–Dammam: The conference was highly productive. We have decided to start training programs for teachers in the Kingdom. According to our plan, some senior teachers and principals will be chosen to make a core team, who will undergo training in the first phase. CBSE will give us four or five master trainers for this purpose. Eventually, these trained principals and teachers will train other teachers on subjects and methodology, new exam and evaluation system, and the like. There is a specific requirement that the teachers should be trained by a CBSE empanelled team as it sees that teamwork can play a bigger role in bringing about harmonious progress. Love and affection are the best tools for teachers to make their profession the greatest. Biggest responsibility of teachers is to change the world positively with making desirable behavioral changes in children. Commenting on IISD lifting the overall champions trophy for boys for six years in a row in the Cluster Meet, Shaffe said the school's success mantra is hard work, systematic coaching and motivation, keeping the spirit and confidence level high, and guiding to focus on full attention and concentration in activities. Mairaj Mohammed Khan, principal of Daratussalam International Delhi Public School-Riyadh: The conference went off very well as it discussed common issues faced by CBSE schools in the Kingdom. The theme of the conference was very relevant especially in the present scenario in the country where tolerance and freedom of expression are taking a back seat. Mutual respect among various religions and cultures is on the wane. The growing intolerance casts apprehension over the country's future. In the backdrop of this, the role of teachers is crucial as they have to play a decisive role in making the next generation free from such undesirable tendencies. The teachers have to inculcate moral values in them. For this, teachers have to be role models. However, the present status of teachers does not allow them to perform this holistic mission. Being that the society is becoming more materialistic and its members preferring professions that fetch them more money, teaching is no longer an attractive profession and hence, there is a shortfall of talented and capable people coming to take up this profession. Therefore, collective work is needed to upgrade dignity of teachers and raise their pay so as to enable them to act as role models. There should also be a total overhaul of the educational system with refining of the priorities. Khan, who hails from Nainital in the northern Uttarakhand state of India, is one of the longest serving principals in the Kingdom. After serving 19 years as principal in India, he joined DPS Riyadh as principal in 2008. Col. Julius Rocque, principal of International Indian School-Buraidah: It is great to bring all community and private international schools under one platform to discuss and find solutions to their problems, chalking out uniform academic calendar, in addition to sharing their best practices, experiences and visions. All gathered to respect each other as well as to give and take the best of the best. The theme of the conference underscored that our boys and girls should have peace of mind in the most turbulent period of their adolescent age. Our focus is on raising them as good human beings and Indian citizens irrespective of religions, regions and other considerations. Teachers should impart good moral education and guide them to scale heights in their career, besides contributing to the society and nation as good citizens. Rocque, as an Indian Army lt. colonel, served as head of several training schools back in India, spanning 26 years, before coming to the Kingdom. He worked as principal in charge at IIS Dammam earlier and has also been serving as executive secretary of Indian community schools and organizing secretary for scouts and guides of CBSE schools in the Kingdom. Abdul Samad K.A, principal Al-Mawarid International School-Jeddah: The conference was instrumental in further empowering all principals. We have learned and relearned many things. When we share different practices and experiences, it helps us to learn more and more. We have imbibed many best practices from different schools. The interaction with Ms. Jabarti was marvelous. Media have to play a greater role in education. Most Indian dailies dedicate one special page in every week for the topic of education and institutions. The same pattern could be followed at least by the English newspapers in the Kingdom. There should be a media highlight of educational goals, careers, guidance, counseling, remedial measures to be followed by teachers, besides addressing problems faced by schools, teachers and students in general. Abdul Samad, whose school has 3,700 students, had been attending the principals' conference for 10 consecutive years. Rafeequnnisa Sadiq, principal of International Indian School Khafji: There is a glaring situation of parents and children living isolated within their home. All are busy in their own world with mobile aps and Internet. The family members are so detached in the age of global connectivity. In this backdrop, the conference emphasized that there should be better and effective coordination between parents, teachers and students to achieve the real goals of education. As education is a major tool in upbringing students in a peaceful atmosphere, parents have a bigger role in grooming them properly and gently in the digital world. There should be constant watch whether they are misusing technology. Interactions between academic and media persons shall be continued so as to fetch their positive outcome to the younger generation. Sadiq, from Hyderabad, has been serving as principal of the school near the Iraqi border for seven years. Earlier, she worked at Al-Ahsa Indian school. K. Rahamathullah, principal of Al Yasmin International School, Riyadh: The conference was an inspiring event for all principals. It was extremely thought provoking and beneficial for the educators while fulfilling effectively their holistic mission of inculcating moral values, developing talent and life skills, besides enabling them to achieve academic excellence by taking advantage of the highly advanced technology and tools of education. The theme of the conference was highly relevant in the sense that peace and development are inevitable for children to scale ladders of success in life. S.M. Samsuddin, principal of International Indian School Tabuk: The conference was highly fruitful and useful. The session with Ms. Jabarti was especially noteworthy as it drove home the idea that collaboration between media and school should be there for all round development of our children. The principals took important decisions with regard to making available of peaceful atmosphere and promoting all round development. They also highlighted taking advantage of positive elements of IT and ward off its demerits with the cooperation and coordination of parents. Samsuddin, who hails from the southern Indian city of Chennai, joined the school 16 years ago and serves as principal since four years.
