Appeal for Indian higher education infrastructure in Saudi by the CBSE toppers
Four Indian students based out of Saudi-Arabia, who have topped in the CBSE’s Class 12th examination, have appealed to the Indian government to introduce higher education facilities in the Gulf countries.
The four toppers from the International Indian School Jeddah (affiliated to the CBSE) received appreciation letters from Smriti Irani, Indian Minister for Human Resources Development, for their excellent academic performance. This gesture was seen as a big motivation for the lakhs of students studying in the Gulf countries, as reported by the Saudi Gazette on Wednesday.
Asif Ali Puthukkolly Ali and Raqib Hasan Khan scored 100 marks in Mathematics & Chemistry respectively, while Tasneem Abbas got 97 in English and Simra Pervez secured 99 in Home Science.
“It is not a good choice to study after Class 12 in the Kingdom as the technical courses offered here are not up to the mark as compared to those in India. It is not only Saudi Arabia, but in fact the entire Gulf region which lacks the facilities for meritorious students apart from the high cost of education for emigrants”, said Raqib Hasan Khan, who also stood second in Saudi Arabia at an overall level.
Khan has urged SmritiIrani to help fulfil the dreams of lakhs of senior secondary students to pursue higher studies in Saudi Arabia by taking steps to introduce higher studies.
The brilliant aspirant of engineering, Khan, has already cleared India’s JEE, the entrance exams of UP state engineering and Jamia Millia Islamia.
Another outstanding student hailing from Kerala, Asif Ali, has urged the minister to look into the longstanding issue of introducing Indian higher education facilities in the Gulf countries for Indian expatriate students.
Tasneem Abbas was overjoyed with the minister’s appreciation but expressed her sorrow at leaving behind her parents in the Kingdom and moving to Kerala to take up higher studies. She has requested SmritiIrani to help provide higher education facilities for expatriate students, primarily for girls.
The Principal of IISJ, Syed Masood Ahmed, also shares the same opinion. According to him, "Exploring avenues for introducing (Indian) higher education facilities in Saudi Arabia is the need of the hour. Several girls are forced to halt their studies after higher secondary education without any fault of theirs. Compelling job-related circumstances of their parents makes them reluctant to go back to their home.”
Ahmed added that courses like engineering, basic sciences and humanities and commerce could be introduced in Saudi Arabia.