Hassan Cheruppa
JEDDAH — An umbrella body of Indian expatriate organizations from the southern state of Kerala underscored the need for making available of affordable quality education to the maximum number of students in their community school without making any hike in fees.
“Increasing space and facilities for education of their wards in the community school is the most pressing demand of Indian expatriates living in Jeddah for the last several years,” said the office bearers of Jeddah Keralites Forum (JKF). They demanded the school authorities take urgent steps to provide admissions to all students who wish to enroll in the school.
The JKF officials expressed satisfaction over the facilities at the new building complex designed for the fourth campus of International Indian School-Jeddah (IISJ), saying that the building premises would definitely provide an ideal educational atmosphere for the students. They made the remarks in a press statement after making an inspection tour of the new campus.
While drawing attention to the space constraint at IISJ for the students of the community, the JKF leaders lauded the efforts being made by the school managing committee to find a new campus. “Thousands of students are seeking admission in the school every year but unfortunately an overwhelming majority of applicants are denied of admission for want of space. More than 7,000 applicants are said to be not in a position to get admission this year too, and majority of them belonged to middle and low income segments of the community who are not in a position to enroll in private schools due to unaffordable fee charged by them,” they said while noting that these students are forced to rely on private tuitions or stay at home deprived of their right to education.
“This reality should be an eye opener,” they said while adding that the new building complex is in Al Rehab district within the vicinity of other three campuses in an area of 2 km, making the transportation facility more feasible.”
Reacting to the allegations raised by a group of expatriates, JKF officials said: “Those who challenge the new project stating baseless factors are supposed to put forth constructive suggestions to solve the burning issue. It is unfortunate and inhuman to oppose any positive initiative to make available of affordable education to the Indian children,” they said while urging MC to expedite the procedures to start admission in the new premises in the coming academic year itself.
Those who issued the joint statement included JKF Chairman P.T. Muhammed, General Convener, P.P. Raheem, Ahmed Palayat, V.K.A Raoof, K.M. Shereef Kunhu, Pappatta Kunhimuhammed, K.T.A Muneer, Aboobacker Arimbra, Shibu Thiruvananthapuram, P.M.A Jaleel, Latheef Malappurum, Sakeer Hussain Edavanna, and Haja Thiruvananthapuram.
