RIYADH, 29 March 2004 — A branch of India’s prestigious Delhi Public School (DPS) is planned for Riyadh.
Addressing a press conference after the announcement at the Riyadh Palace Hotel, Dr. Ibrahim H. Al-Qauayid and Sultan Salman Al-Terais Al-Harbi, promoters of the project, said, “DPS Riyadh will be a world-class institution. The courses will include science, art, culture, heritage, environment and sports. The idea for the institution arose from a need to focus on educational excellence.”
The press conference was also attended by Nadeem A. Tarin, a local businessman who is a promoter of the project as well as chairman of the local DPS managing committee.
The high-profile inaugural event, which attracted a huge crowd of primarily elite Indian expatriates, was also attended by Indian Embassy officials including Anantha Krishnan and J. K. Sharma. The event was conducted by Sanaullah Khan, a social activist. Afzal Sanai, a senior community leader; Akhtar Siddiqui, a member of the DPS Society and S. A. Khader, former director general of the National Productivity Council of India also addressed the audience.
Dr. Al-Qauayid and Al-Harbi said that a new school building would be built within the next three years at a cost of around SR20 million. DPS at present is currently running some 100 schools in India and 20 others in 12 foreign countries, including the US, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Tarin explained, “To begin with, the school in Riyadh will be from kindergarten to fifth year.”
He said he was sure the school would attract students since Riyadh and its environs are home to over 350,000 Indians. The management will introduce Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) courses at the beginning but at a later stage, it will offer both US and British curricula.
The school has been licensed by the Saudi government and will be located in the Al-Maruh district of Riyadh.
It will begin academic work in the second half of April. The school management has decided to recognize the first group of students by calling them “founder students” and also by giving them substantial school fee discounts.
