Al-Alia International Indian School (AAIIS) (Arabic: مدرسة العالية الهندية العالمية) is a K–12 gender-isolated English-medium community-based private foreign school in the al-Malazz neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, primarily serving the Indian diaspora,[2] mostly Malayalis.[3] Established in 2003 by Indian politician and businessman Thomas Chandy,[4] the school offers Indian curriculum prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education,[5] and is a member of the CBSE Gulf Sahodaya besides being approved by the country's Ministry of Education.
| Al-Alia International Indian School مدرسة العالية الهندية العالمية | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
 | |
Prince Fahad Ibn Ibrahim Al Saud Street | |
| Coordinates | 24°39′18″N 46°43′45″E / 24.65500°N 46.72917°E |
| Information | |
| Other name | Al Aliya International School[1] |
| Former name | Al-Alia Indian Central School |
| School type | Private day school |
| Motto | Scaling Greater Heights Still... |
| Opened | 3 April 2003 |
| Founder | Thomas Chandy |
| School board | Central Board of Secondary Education |
| Educational authority | Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia |
| Chairperson | Mary Chandy |
| Principal | Dr. Shanu C. Thomas |
| Academic Supervisor (Boys Section) | Sreekanth R |
| Principal (Girls Section) | Mrs.Latha Kavitha |
| Vice Principal (Girls Junior Section) | Soji Abraham |
| Grades | K–12 |
| Gender | Co-education (till kindergarten) Gender-isolated (from first grade) |
| Age range | 4 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 2525 |
| Education system | Indian |
| Language | English |
| Houses |
|
| Affiliation | CBSE Gulf Sahodaya |
| Demonym | Alian |
| Website | alaliaschool |
History edit
Establishment and early days edit
In January 2003, Indian politician and educationist Thomas Chandy announced the establishment of Al-Alia Indian Central School in the capital's al-Aziziyah neighborhood during a press-conference among journalists in Riyadh.[6] Chandy chose al-Aziziyah neighborhood in order to cope with the soaring education needs of the Indian community in Manfuhah and Ghubaira neighborhoods.[6] The school was inaugurated on 3 April 2003 with 23 teachers and 200 students with Dr. Ram Thakur being its inaugural principal. In 2009, the school shifted its premises from al-Aziziyah to a new campus in al-Malazz neighborhood.[7]
In 2012, Al Alia made headlines when it hosted a condolence meeting within its premises upon the death of former Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia MO Hasan Farook Maricar.[8] More than 40 different leaders of various Indian organization attended the event presided over by the school's then principal, Pious John.[8] In May 2015, Al Alia International Indian School conducted an investiture ceremony of the Girls' Wing, in which Yara school's principal Aasima Saleem was invited as the chief guest.[9] Al Alia celebrated its 17th anniversary in late 2019, in which Rajesh Kumar from the Indian embassy in Riyadh was invited as chief guest.[10]
Inter-school events timeline edit
In November 2013, Yara International School defeated Al Alia International Indian School at the third Inter-School Football tournament organized by LuLu Group.[11] In 2014, Al-Alia took part in the Peevees UN Simulation Conference which was chaired by Capt. William Roe, managing director of the Saudi Aviation Flight Academy[12] and hosted by Al Yasmin International School in Riyadh.[13] In November 2015, Al-Alia participated in Lulu-Keli Inter-School Football Tournament hosted by LuLu Group at Nasriya Al-Asima International Stadium in Riyadh[14] and also faced-off against Yara International School.[15] In 2017, Riyadh Indian Association (RIA) hosted RIA Faber Castell Impressions 2017, in which 700 students from different countries participated, including Al Alia.[16] IISR blanked out Al Alia in the 5th Keli Inter-School Football Tournament for Safa Makkah Cup held at Nadi Al-Riyadh Stadium.[17]
Management and key people edit
Al-Alia International Indian School is owned by Mohammad Hamad Abdullah Al Humaidi, a Kuwaiti educationist[18] and is presently managed by a committee of 3 permanent and 8 non-permanent members.[19]
| Name | Position held | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Chandy | Chairperson | Permanent |
| Dr. Toby Chandy | Vice-Chairman | Permanent |
| Tessy Joel Jacob | Member | Permanent |
| Dr. Shanu C. Thomas | Secretary and principal | Non-permanent |
| Priya Oommen Joy | Member | Non-permanent |
| Adv. John Thomas | Member | Non-permanent |
| Usha Thomas | Member | Non-permanent |
| Dhanya Sarath | Member | Non-permanent |
| Asha Saju Sam | Member | Non-permanent |
| Leena Varghese | Member | Non-permanent |
| Laly Alexander | Member | Non-permanent |
| Principal | In office |
|---|---|
| Dr. Ram Dial Thakur | 2003 – 2007 |
| Renjith Alexander | 2007 – 2011 |
| Pious John | 2011 – 2015 |
| Dr. Shanu C Thomas | 2015 – present |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "School students interaction with former ISRO scientist inspiring". Saudigazette. 2014-11-18. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ "മുന് മന്ത്രി തോമസ് ചാണ്ടി അന്തരിച്ചു". Southlive (in Malayalam). 2019-12-20. Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Keli soccer tourney begins". Saudigazette. 2015-10-16. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "തോമസ് ചാണ്ടി അന്തരിച്ചു". azhimukham.com (in Malayalam). 2019-12-20. Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "CBSE Principals' Conference to brainstorm 'Hubs of Learning'". Saudigazette. 2019-10-20. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ a b "NRI granted license to open school in Riyadh". Arab News. 2003-01-13. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "The Alian Alliance" (PDF). Al Alia International Indian School. 1 (1). November 2015.
- ^ a b "Condolence meeting in Riyadh for former Indian Ambassador to Saudi MOH Farook". The Times of India. February 6, 2012. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "The Alian Alliance" (PDF). Al Alia International Indian School. 1 (1). November 2015. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ "അൽ ആലിയ സ്കൂളിന്റെ നേട്ടം പ്രശംസനീയം; ഇന്ത്യൻ എംബസി കൗൺസിലർ എസ് രാകേഷ് കുമാർ". Sathyam Online (in Malayalam). 2019-12-15. Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "ലുലുകപ്പ് -കേളി ഇന്റര്സ്കൂള് ഫൂട്ബോള് ടൂര്ണമെന്റ്: ഡിപിഎസും യാരയും സെമിയില്". emalayalee.com (in Malayalam). 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
- ^ "Students hone skills at mock UN session". Arab News. 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Peevees host fourth model United Nations conference". Saudigazette. 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Lulu-Keli Inter-School Football Tournament begins". Saudigazette. 2015-11-07. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Yara blanks Al-Aliya in Keli soccer". Saudigazette. 2015-11-14. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "RIA Faber-Castell Impressions event proves a big draw". Saudigazette. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "IIPS and IISR record victories on opening day". Saudigazette. 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ "About Al Alia International Indian School". www.alaliaschool.com. Archived from the original on 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "CBSE INFORMATION-Al Alia International Indian School". www.alaliaschool.com. Archived from the original on 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2021-12-04.