DAMMAM — International Indian School, Dammam (IISD) celebrated its 30th Annual Day with ceremonies held in both boys' and girls' campuses. Hamid Ali Rao, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom and Patron of the School, graced both the occasions as chief guest with his wife Dr. Asiya Hamid Rao. The ambassador appreciated and praised the achievements of IISD in the academic front as reflected in the board examination results and its repeated gains in the CBSE Saudi cluster meet and CBSE nationals in India. Hamid also said that a detailed and official guideline is being formulated to govern and streamline the functioning of the Higher Board of the International Indian Schools in the Kingdom. Unified rules and regulations will be implemented in community schools with regards to employment of teachers, their service conditions, among others. Hamid emphasized that his foremost obligation is to safeguard the interests of parents and the Indian community. He he advised parents not to interfere unnecessarily in school affairs because even he doesn't do so. He congratulated the newly elected managing committee of IISD and expressed his conviction that the International Indian Schools in the Kingdom under the patronage of the Embassy of India belongs to parents and the Indian community and these schools shall be governed by bodies elected by the parents. The colourful ceremonies were conducted in the presence of invited guests, teachers, students and parents. The highlights of the events were the felicitation of faculty who served the institution for 10, 20 and 25 years and the meritorious students who excelled in the board examinations of grades 10 and 12. The Ambassador presented mementos to Nazeer Maniyamkulam, chief librarian, teachers Sandhya Mohan, Geetha Mani and Mehru Qamar, and transport supervisor N M R Nizar, who gave more than 25 years of service to the school. Teachers of various sections and headmistress Najma Nakhat, Tamkeen Majida, A K Soopy, Aliea Fathima and Mary Sabu George were given awards for dedicating two decades of their life to the school. Thirteen teachers who completed 10 years in the school also received awards from the patron.
Dr.Asiya launched the student magazine “TORCH” at the event. In his welcome speech, school managing committee's chairman S M Thirunavukkarassu highlighted the six-month achievements of the new managing committee. Some of the facilities were payment of school fee on line, the decision to recruit competent faculty from India for deployment at the senior sections, establishment of the grievance cell to attend to parents' complaints and demands , up-gradation of the computer labs with new generation computers, among others. School principal Dr E K Mohammed Shaffe presented the school annual report emphasizing the achievements of IISD in the curricular and co-curricular activities. A PowerPoint presentation on the 30 years of IISD history depicted the school's humble beginning with 250 students and 15 teachers in few porta-cabins. Today, the school proudly hosts well over 16,000 students, who are under the care of more than 850 teachers. Colourful cultural presentations by students from different sections of the school enthralled the audience. Savita George, Philip Thomas and Abdul Naffe compered the program in the boys' section and Ruby Thomas, Christina Anto and Khadeeja Sabreen compered at the girls' section. — SG
