Thumrait Indian School Marks 15 Years Amid Challenges

Salalah: The Indian School in Thumrait, near Salalah, is completing fifteen years of service even as it continues to face challenges, including the long-pending completion of its own permanent building. The school was established in 2011 with the objective of promoting the educational progress of children from ordinary expatriate families living in and around Thumrait, a small region on the edge of the desert. Residents of Thumrait are still awaiting approval for the land required for the school and remain hopeful that the Board and the Ministry will grant the necessary permission.

At present, the school functions from rented premises located in a residential area, which creates difficulties in its day-to-day operations. Speaking on the occasion, President Russel Muhammed expressed hope that expatriate businesspersons would come forward to help realise the long-cherished dream of a permanent school building, which is a basic necessity for the children of expatriates.

The 15th-anniversary celebrations will be held on Thursday, February 12, at 7.30 pm at the Thumrait Wali Office Auditorium. Thumrait Deputy Wali Sheikh Haitham Salem Al Gharibi will attend as the chief guest. Dr. Abdulla Saeed Ghawas, Director of the Private Schools Department in Dhofar; Nidheesh Kumar, Member of the Board of Directors of Indian Schools; Educational Advisor M. P. Vinoba; and several prominent members of the Indian community in Salalah will also participate. A large reception committee has been formed to ensure the success of the programme.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has recently reached an understanding with the Saudi Investment Authority to develop a large industrial park based in Thumrait. If the project materialises, hundreds of expatriate families are expected to move to the area.