A large part of Riyadh’s 500,000-strong Indian expatriate community have found itself in the grip of election fever as they go to the polls Saturday to elect members of the managing committee of the International Indian School, Riyadh (IISR).
S. M. Shaukat Perwez, IISR’s principal, urged parents Friday to vote in large numbers. “This vote from the school community will influence who leads their child’s school over the next three years,” Perwez, the chief election officer, told Arab News. A seven-member election commission has been constituted to ensure a free and fair election, said the IISR principal. A representative from the Saudi Ministry of Education and another from the Indian Embassy are on the election panel.
The candidates are: Dilshad Ahmad (Uttar Pradesh), M. Firoz Rahman (Bihar), S. Abdul Khader (Andhra Pradesh), Ibrahim Rahmatullah (Tamil Nadu), Hamsa Kutty Naseer (Kerala), S. Aftab Ali Nizami (Delhi), S. Mazharuddin (Andhra Pradesh), Misbahul Arfin (Uttar Pradesh), Shaikh Aqueel Ahmad (Maharashtra), R. Mathew (Kerala), Shafi Ahmad Sattar (Karnataka), Ommar Niaz (Kerala), S.H.A. Hyder Ali (Tamil Nadu), Saiful Islam (Andhra Pradesh), M. Nasiruddin (Andhra Pradesh) and Anjar Ahmad Khan (Maharashtra). They were seen canvassing parents for support on the eve of the election.
Perwez said parents must cast their votes between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the school’s boys section. He called on about 5,000 eligible parents “to vote and make the most of the opportunity to choose from a range of candidates.”
“The committee members play a key role in working with staff, students and parents and hence parents must vote for the right candidate,” said Ahmed, who is contesting the election.
“The managing board is also responsible for the strategic direction of the school and the educational opportunities of every child … so please make a wise decision,” said Rahman, another candidate, while calling for support.
“While casting your vote for the seven candidates of your choice out of the 16, please keep in mind the educational standards and the future of the 10,000-plus students,” said Ali, another candidate in the fray.
A large number of community organizations have been canvassing for their respective candidates. At least 106 small and large meetings were organized by a range of community organizations including a mega dinner meeting hosted by the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association, Riyadh chapter, on Thursday night. Another community organization Tanzeem Hum Hindustani is leading the election campaign online, calling on parents “to elect a right management committee to improve the overall standard of the school.”
A number of parents and community organizations have also raised their demands even before the poll results are announced. Subash Kumar, a parent, has called on candidates to correct the timings of the school immediately after the poll. “No school in Saudi Arabia functions until 2 p.m. except IISR … and our children return home completely tired at 3 p.m. nowadays,” said Kumar.
Other concerns raised by parents and community organizations include regularizing the status of female teachers, academic improvement and transparency in school accounts. A better transport system and an immediate need to shift the IISR girls section are other demands. The girls’ building is crowded because of the growing number of students.
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