The foundation stone for the new Indian school building was laid yesterday on a plot donated by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and the Ruler of Sharjah.
Sheikh Saud bin Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Advisor to the Sharjah Ruler, laid the foundation stone for the building to be constructed adjacent to the existing Sharjah Indian School.
Dr George Joseph, Indian Consul General in Dubai, Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, officials of Indian Association Sharjah and some prominent community members were present.
Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Saud said: "Students should concentrate more on their studies to become responsible citizens as they hold the future of their country." The Sharjah government will provide all possible help to the community to implement its educational plans, he added.
Dr Joseph underlined the need to devise a mechanism to develop closer relations between Arab and Indian students. "There should be some way of joint learning for the Indian and Arab students at least in a few areas such as mathematics and information technology so that they get closer to each other, interact, and understand each other's culture and needs for a better working relationship."
He thanked Dr Sheikh Sultan for donating the plot for the school and the premises of the Indian Association Sharjah.
M.K. Madhavan, president of the association, said the building will be built on a 17,000 square feet plot within seven months at a cost of about Dh7 million.
The school, which has 4,700 students, will accommodate boys in the morning shift from the next academic year.
Madhavan said the request for the plot was forwarded to the Sharjah government by Asoke Mukerji, the previous Indian Consul General, on the recommendations of the association.
The school is run under the supervision of the Indian Association Sharjah, established in 1979.
"We will hold our silver jubilee celebrations both for the school and the association in the year 2004," Madhavan added.
Gulf News
