Pakistan International School, Al-Khobar

Pakistan International School, Al-Khobar
Location
Khobar Saudi Arabia
Coordinates	26°17′43″N 50°12′41″E / 26.29528°N 50.21139°ECoordinates: 26°17′43″N 50°12′41″E / 26.29528°N 50.21139°E
Information
Type	Private
Established	1966
Principal	Chaudhry Niaz Ahmad
Vice Principal	Sarfraz Hussain
Website	http://www.piskhobar.com

The Pakistan International School, Al-Khobar, more popularly known by its former name as the Saudi Arabian International School (Pakistani Section) (SAIS) due to its huge Pakistani student body and teaching staff, is a school serving the Pakistani community of Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia residing in the cities of Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Thuqbah, Ras Tanura, Abqaiq and Jubail. The study curriculum of the school is based on that of Pakistani education standards.

The School consists of a Boys and a Girls section. As of 2014, the student population consists of over 3000 children ranging from ages 5 to 20. It is a K-12 educational institution with a certified curriculum (Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Islamabad) that has been gradually upgraded over the years. The school operates in two separate shifts of 0715–1235 hours and 1515–1945 hours. The school was founded as a small room school in 1966 by Abbas Hussain Malik.

History

With the oil boom in the Sixties, Saudi Arabia was becoming a nucleus of trade and commercial activity. Pakistani engineers, doctors and professionals from all walks of life were pouring in. But, in the absence of any Pakistani educational institution, they could not keep their families in Khobar. There was a pressing need for a school. At that juncture, Mr. Abbas Hussain Malik founded the Pakistan Community High School (PCHS).

The school has 2 campuses and 52 teachers as of 2014. Of the teachers still present in the school, many have taught for well over 20 years. Most experienced teachers include Dr.Sarfraz Hussain, Riaz Virk, Javed Iqbal, Rizvi, Mansoor Jahan and Iftikhar Ahmed.

Administrative Committee

The school flourished and thrived as long as Mr. Abbas Hussain Malik was the principal. After his departure from the school, Board of Directors system was introduced. The system was dissolved after a few years time due to misconduct and corruption, which resulted in the depletion of the School's finances. Then, an Administrative Committee was set up, which dragged the school back from a complete disaster and made the institution financially viable. However, this has resulted in the principal having an authoritative power over the institution.

Academics

Pakistan International School has two wings. The beginners course starts from the Girls wing where children start their journey for quest of knowledge. Boys and Girls study from Kindergarten to Class III in the same wing. After their promotion to Class IV, the boys and girls join their respective wings. Junior school occupies central position in the overall set up of Pakistan International School, Al-Khobar. The students of the Junior school are assessed and promoted internally at the end of the Academic Year. It is, however, pertinent to note here that the Annual Examination is not the only criterion through which the progress and academic development of the students is assessed. Monthly Progress Report is sent at the end of each month. The teacher's evaluation, monthly tests and the examinations are just a few of the yard sticks by which each student is assessed and evaluated. Parent/Teacher meetings are held twice in an Academic Year so that the parents' can discuss their child's academic progress. ^[1]

Extra-curricular activities

Extra-Curricular activities include competitions for Model making, Speech, Naat, Qirat (the recitation of quran), Essay writing. A sports day is held during winter in every year at Al-Nahda Club (Saudi Arabia). Sports day includes Musical chairs and a 100 metres sprint race.

Fees

The admission fee is SR.500. In case of the student's name being struck off from the rolls, re-admission fee is SR.100. The school takes tuition fee, transport fee, laboratory fee and exam fee separately. Students are fined a big amount for misconduct.

References

1. PIS Khobar.com - http://www.piskhobar.com