The Indian Schools in Oman recently held a prestigious ceremony to honor outstanding teachers in the Sultanate of Oman. The 'Navin Asher-Kazi Awards for Excellence in Teaching', established by the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman, were presented to deserving teachers at the Indian School Bousher on January 18, 2024.
The event was graced by the presence of Shaikh Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who attended as the Chief Guest. Professor Nutayla Al Harthy, Dean of Oman Dental College in Muscat, was the Guest of Honour and delivered the keynote speech.
Dr. Sivakumar Manickam, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman, presided over the function, ensuring its smooth proceedings.
The ceremony was attended by various esteemed individuals, including Kiran Asher and family, the patrons of the award, Anil Khimji, Director of Khimji Ramdas Group of Companies, Mrs. Reena Jain, First Secretary of the Embassy of India, Vice Chairman Shameer PTK, and other esteemed members of the Board of Directors of Indian Schools Oman. Former Chairpersons Yusuf Nalwala and Sandeep Arora were also present, along with members of the Board of Directors, Presidents, Principals, and the recipients of the Awards for Excellence in Teaching and their families.
The deserving teachers who received this prestigious award were recognized in different categories. In the Kindergarten category, Mrs. Zahida Faiz Parkar from Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir and Mrs. Asha Fayas Sait from Indian School Al Maabela were honored. In the Primary School Category, Mrs. Delphy Umesh and Mrs. Rassia C.A. from Indian School Al Maabela were recognized. Mr. Pradeep Ramaswamy from Indian School Al Maabela and Mrs. Parvathy Babu from Indian School Sur were awarded in the Middle School Category. In the Senior School Category, Mrs. Indira Sukumaran from Indian School Sohar and Mrs. Ampili Sundaresan from Indian School Nizwa were acknowledged. Lastly, Mrs. Sumitra Badoni from Indian School Al Maabela and Mr. Yeldo T. Ouseph from Indian School Muscat were honored in the Co-scholastic Category.
This ceremony served as a testament to the dedication and excellence displayed by these teachers in their respective fields, and their contributions to the education system in Oman.
In the introductory address Dr. Sivakumar Manickam, Chairman, Board of Directors, underscoredthe significant role teachers play in the lives of students.
The Chairman thanked Kiran Asher and his family for their generous support in organising the event for the tenth consecutive year.
Shaikh Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas inspired the audience with his insightful thoughts on the role of teachers in society.
“The quality of a nation depends on the quality of its citizens, and the quality of its citizens depends on their education. The quality of education, in turn, depends on its teachers, who are the backbone of any nation,” said Al Rawas.
“Awards for Excellence in Teaching’ is an annual event designed to encourage, reward, and acknowledge sustained excellence in teaching. The award recognises excellence in teaching practices that reflect the highest standards in pedagogy, a record of outstanding teaching effectiveness within and outside the classroom, the ability to inspire, promote and sustain the intellectual, emotional and social development of students,” Dr. Manickam said.
Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker Professor Nutayla Al Harthy narrated instances of greatness of teachers from her own personal life. Professor Al Harthy highlighted the contribution the Indian Schools in Oman have given with reference to the large number of students studying in 21 Indian Schools across the Sultanate of Oman.
Prof. Al Harthy emphasized the significant role that teachers play in not only imparting education but also in shaping students' success in life through the teaching of values and life skills such as supportive acts of service, self-discipline, and commitment.
Furthermore, thirty-three teachers from various categories were honored with Certificates of Recognition for their exceptional contributions to the field of education. Suresh V.S., Principal of Indian School Ibri, and Santha Kumar Dasari, Principal of Indian School Buraimi, were acknowledged for their long-standing service as Principals in their respective schools. Dr. Alka Singh from Indian School Sohar was also recognized for her research in Zoology, which led to the attainment of a Ph.D.
As part of the Navin Asher-Kazi Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Mrs. Jayshree Asher and Mrs. Jesal Asher Rajda presented certificates and prizes to the winners of the teachers' competition. This competition aimed to showcase Teaching Learning Material created by teachers to enhance the interactive and interesting nature of teaching and learning.
In the digital category, Mrs. Ambika Padmanabhan (Indian School Bousher), MVSR Somayajulu (Indian School Muscat), and Mrs. Kavitha Ashokan (Indian School Al Maabela) secured the top three positions. On the other hand, Mrs. Sandhya Rakesh (Indian School Jalan), Mrs. Soumi Saji (Indian School Al Maabela), and Mrs. J. Infancy Jermila Rani (Indian School Sohar) emerged as the top three winners in the category of physically crafted teaching learning material.
The students of Indian School Bousher showcased a captivating cultural program during the event, leaving the audience enthralled. The program concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Shanmugham Purushothaman, President of the Indian School Bousher Management Committee.
