THE Pakistan International School Jeddah (PISJ) – Al-Azizia bid farewell to Salma Shah Khan, the former vice principal of the school, who completed her service period this month. Saudi Gazette interviewed the beloved member of the PISJ faculty, who has been part of the school for 35 years. “My journey in teaching began when I was appointed as a teacher in the Government College for Women in Mardan, Pakistan. I got married then and was selected as a public service commissioner. I came to Saudi Arabia with my husband and joined the PISJ in 1974,” recalled Khan. She says teaching and grooming students at the PISJ has been “an experience of a lifetime”. “I taught English in the 70's when the school was located in Al-Baghdadia. PISJ had education till Class ten, and in 1984, the building was shifted to Al-Azizia, when college classes were introduced after realizing the higher educational needs of the Pakistani nationals here. I was appointed to conduct the college classes, and that has been a wonderful experience for me,” said Khan. In her career, Khan has shouldered multiple responsibilities that include heading the English Literary Society, Educational Board Affairs, Examination Committee, the post of headmistress, sectional head of senior classes and, finally, taking over as the vice principal of the school. “I was appointed the headmistress of the school for the first time in 1992. Upon the abolishment of the headmistress system, I took charge as the Sectional Head (1999-2003), and in 2005, I was appointed as the vice principal of PISJ,” she said. The post of the vice principal was definitely not a piece of cake for Khan. She said it was a challenging job to handle the students, staff and the authorities. “It is not always possible to keep everyone happy and satisfied,” she said. According to Khan, the most complex problem that the school faced during her tenure as the vice principal was when the Saudi government gave directives to the school stating that all the teachers should be sponsored by the school and not on their husband's or father's Iqama. “There were many teachers whose sponsorship had to be transferred. Warning letters were sent to the teachers to follow the instructions failing which they would be terminated. However, by 2007, the issue had been resolved,” said Khan. Another testing time, she said, was during the “clashes between the parents' committee and the teachers over certain issues”. Khan said her happiest moments were when PISJ students secured positions on the board, and during the recent 50th anniversary celebrations of the school. Khan has a word for all students. “I advise all students, especially the girls, to give utmost importance to education in order to survive in this tough world,” she said. To her colleagues, the PISJ faculty, she says: “The institution should be given top priority over all matters, and teachers should perform their duty with the highest dedication. They should fully acquaint themselves with the teaching system, and groom the students in a way that reflects the high standards that PISJ has achieved over the years.” She concluded by thanking the school for presenting her with a shield in recognition of her services.
