Riyadh, June 26 (IANS): Four Saudi Arabia-based Indian students, who have topped in the CBSE's 12th grade examinations this year, have appealed to the Indian government to address the Indian community’s demand for introducing higher education facilities in the Gulf kingdom.
The four students of International Indian School-Jeddah (IISJ), affiliated to the CBSE, who received letters of appreciation from Indian Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani for their academic performance, thanked her for her positive gesture saying that it would be a big motivation for hundreds of thousands of Indian students studying in the Gulf and other countries, the Saudi Gazette reported Wednesday.
Raqib Hasan Khan and Asif Ali Puthukkolly Ali secured 100 marks in chemistry and mathematics, respectively, while Simra Pervez secured 99 in home science and Tasneem Abbas got 97 in English.
Raqib Hasan Khan, who stood overall second in Saudi Arabia, told the Saudi Gazette: "Studying after (class) 12 in the Kingdom is not a good choice and the technical courses offered in the Kingdom are not up to the mark as compared to that in India. Not only Saudi Arabia, but I feel the entire Gulf region lacks facilities for meritorious students, in addition to high cost of education for expatriates."
Khan urged the Indian HRD minister to fulfill the dreams of tens of thousands of senior secondary school graduates to continue their higher studies in Saudi Arabia by taking measures to introduce higher studies.
With an ambition to become an electrical engineer, Khan has already qualified in India’s Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), and the entrance exams of UP state engineering and Jamia Millia Islamia, the report said.
Asif Ali, another outstanding student hailing from Kerala, requested the minister to address the longstanding demand of Indian expatriate students and their parents to introduce Indian higher education facilities in the Gulf.
Tasneem Abbas, who has moved to Kerala to pursue her higher studies, expressed her joy over the minister’s appreciation.
Expressing her sorrow at leaving her parents behind in the Kingdom, Abbas urged the minister to create higher education facilities for expatriate students, especially girls.
IISJ Principal Syed Masood Ahmed also echoed a similar view on the issue.
"It is the need of the hour to explore the avenues for introducing (Indian) higher education facilities in Saudi Arabia. There are several girls who are forced to halt their studies after higher secondary education for no faults of theirs. They are reluctant to go back home because of the compelling job-related circumstances of their parents who, in turn, are worried about having to send their daughters alone," the report quoted Ahmed as saying.
Ahmed suggested that courses like engineering, commerce, basic sciences and humanities could be introduced in Saudi Arabia.