By Hassan Cheruppa

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH – Academic leaders of India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools in the Kingdom will brainstorm various aspects of “Hubs of Learning” in their two-day session beginning here on Oct. 23.

The Saudi Arabian chapter of CBSE affiliated schools is organizing the 29th Principals’ Conference on the sidelines of the Cluster Meet, which kicked off at International Indian School Jeddah on Saturday.

Abdul Samad K.A., convener of the chapter and principal of Al-Mawarid International School, Jeddah told Saudi Gazette that “Hubs of Learning” is a new collaborative program, introduced by CBSE, with the objective of promoting holistic education.

“CBSE has launched a number of initiatives recently to enhance quality of education and “Hubs of Learning” is the most important among them. The program aims at making students undergo self-improvement through promotion of shared learning,” he said.

The program brings together four to six schools under one wing that would learn from each other through co-curricular activities, educational fairs, science exhibitions and art workshops, he said.

“One school, out of this group, would be selected as the “lead collaborator school,” which would be based on the performance of that school in board exams and other criteria. Curriculum, teacher training and pedagogical practices are the major areas of the program and schools are to learn from each other their best practices related to these focus areas,” he pointed out.

The agenda of the conference also includes the academic plan for the new academic year as well as summer and winter vacation schedule, exams of classes 10 and 11, and other related subjects. Principals of 38 CBSE affiliated international schools from various regions of the Kingdom will attend the conference.

Principals of another three schools, which are under various phases of CBSE affiliation, will also participate in the conference.

Apart from athletic meet, quiz and debate competitions, and science exhibition will be held as part of the final phase of the six-day Cluster Meet, which had a colorful start at the IISJ Boys’ Campus on Saturday. On Sunday, athletics for girls started at the Boys’ Campus while athletics for boys kicked off at King Abdullah Sports City, according to Rasheed Alikkal, organizing secretary of the meet. Basketball and badminton matches were also held. Science exhibition will begin on Tuesday, while debate and quiz competitions are set for Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Twenty six schools from among 41 are qualified to take part in the Cluster Meet and they include International Indian Schools of Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Jubail, Buraidah and Tabuk, as well as International Indian Public School, Riyadh; Al Falah Delhi Public School, Jeddah (DPS); Al-Mawarid International School, Jeddah; New Al Wurood International School, Jeddah; Novel International School Jeddah; Ahdab International School, Jeddah; Talal International School, Jeddah; Al-Alia International School, Riyadh; Al-Junoub International School, Khamis Mushayt; Muna International School, Dammam; Al-Khozama International School, Al-Khobar; Al-Yasmin International School, Riyadh; Daratassalam DPS International School, Riyadh; Dunes International School, Al Khobar; Jabal Farasan International School, Rabigh; Modern Middle East International School, Riyadh; Modern International School, Riyadh; New Middle East International School, Riyadh; Radhwa International School, Yanbu; and Yara International School, Riyadh.