Faiz Al-Najdi RIYADH — Pakistan International School hosted its 8th Commendation Ceremony last week and awarded gold medals, cups, shields and appreciation certificates to about 144 students for their excellent performance at the examinations. Awards were also given to some 35 teachers for excellent examination results under their watch for their respective teaching subjects.
This commendation ceremony was attended by over 400 guests comprising students, parents, teachers, and other invitees. Deputy Head of the Mission at the Embassy of Pakistan Khayyam Akbar, and Link Officer and Community Welfare Attaché at the Embassy of Pakistan Syed Hammad Abid were in attendance. School Principal Mian Iqbal, School Management Council (SMC) Chairman Engr. Tariq Mahmood and other respected members of SMC were the host for this event. Iqbal provided an overview of the school and its achievements so far. He spoke very high of SMC and the improvements undertaken by the school, hiring of new qualified teachers, better relations with parents and finally efforts toward acquiring new buildings for the school. Ambassador of Pakistan Muhammad Naeem Khan, who was the chief guest, said education was the best investment that any parent could make on their child. “Education is in fact an agent of change that it brings about in the personality of an individual. It is also the agent that helps eradicate poverty and hopelessness.” He added: “Teachers must realize that their responsibility is not just to teach from 9 to 5 and go home. Teachers must also focus on inculcating discipline and character building of every student and work to mold these young minds for positive and creative thinking.” Students should look upon their teachers as role models. “Teachers know the strengths and weaknesses of each and every student. It is their duty help develop a balanced personality of the students.” The ambassador advised the principal, teachers, the school management council, parents and students to desist from petty politics and focus on the betterment of the School only. “My ambition is to see PISR as the top School in Saudi Arabia.” He advised parents to encourage and facilitate their children for higher studies. Major issues were brought to light in the weekly open house, Khan said, where he learned that many parents have been pulling out their children from schools because of their financial hardship. “I am proud to mention here that through the funds that the community has helped me create I have been able to help many such parents and almost all of their children now have returned to schools.”
The event kicked off with an event staged by Hamza Arif and Awais Naeem. The second part of the event conducted by senior chemistry professor Tahir Raza Abid. Mahmood thanked the ambassador and the officers of the embassy for their guidance and support for bringing about improvements in the school. He also thanked the school principal, members of SMC, students and parents for their cooperation in making the school a better place of learning. A memento shield was presented to the ambassador. The event concluded with the Pakistani national anthem. – SG
