Al Alia International Indian School
Private school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Al Alia International Indian School (AAIIS) (Arabic: المدرسة العالية العالمية الهندية) is a K–12 private foreign school in the al-Malaz neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Established in 2003 by Thomas Chandy,[2] the school serves the local Indian diaspora, mostly Malayalis,[3] and offers Indian curriculum prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).[4][5]
| Al Alia International Indian School | |
|---|---|
المدرسة العالية العالمية الهندية | |
| |
 Al Alia International Indian School, 2024 | |
| Location | |
 | |
Prince Fahad bin Ibrahim Al Saud Street | |
| 24°39′18″N 46°43′45″E | |
| Information | |
| Other name | Al Aliya International School[1] |
| Former name | Al-Alia Indian Central School |
| School type | Private day school |
| Motto | Scaling Greater Heights Still... |
| Opened | 6 April 2003 |
| Founder | Thomas Chandy |
School board | Central Board of Secondary Education |
Educational authority | Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia |
Chairperson | Mary Chandy |
Academic Supervisor (Boys Section) | Sreekanth R |
Principal (Girls Section) | Latha Kavitha |
Vice Principal (Girls Junior Section) | ...... |
| Grades | K–12 |
| Gender | Co-education (till kindergarten) Gender-isolated (from first grade) |
| Age range | 4 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 2525 |
Education system | Indian |
| Language | English |
| Houses |
|
| Affiliation | CBSE Gulf Sahodaya |
| Demonym | Alian |
| Website | alaliaschool |
History
Establishment and early days
In January 2003, Indian politician and educationist Thomas Chandy announced the establishment of Al-Alia Indian Central School in the capital's al-Aziziyah neighborhood during a press-conference among journalists in Riyadh.[6] Chandy chose al-Aziziyah neighborhood in order to cope with the soaring education needs of the Indian community in Manfuhah and Ghubaira neighborhoods.[6] The school was inaugurated on 6 April 2003 with 23 teachers and 200 students and Ram Thakur as its inaugural principal. In 2009, the school shifted its premises from al-Aziziyah to a new campus in al-Malaz neighbourhood.[7]
In 2012, the school made headlines when it hosted a condolence meeting within its premises upon the death of former Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia MO Hasan Farook Maricar.[8] More than 40 different leaders of various Indian organization attended the event presided over by the school's then principal, Pious John.[8] In May 2015, Al Alia International Indian School conducted an investiture ceremony of the Girls' Wing, in which Yara school's principal Aasima Saleem was invited as the chief guest.[9] Al Alia celebrated its 17th anniversary in late 2019, in which Rajesh Kumar from the Indian embassy in Riyadh was invited as chief guest.[10]
Inter-school events timeline
In November 2013, Yara International School defeated Al Alia International Indian School at the third Inter-School Football tournament organized by LuLu Group.[11] In 2014, Al-Alia took part in the Peevees UN Simulation Conference which was chaired by Capt. William Roe, managing director of the Saudi Aviation Flight Academy[12] and hosted by Al Yasmin International School in Riyadh.[13] In November 2015, Al-Alia participated in Lulu-Keli Inter-School Football Tournament hosted by LuLu Group at Nasriya Al-Asima International Stadium in Riyadh[14] and also faced-off against Yara International School.[15] In 2017, Riyadh Indian Association (RIA) hosted RIA Faber Castell Impressions 2017, in which 700 students from different countries participated, including Al Alia.[16] IISR blanked out Al Alia in the 5th Keli Inter-School Football Tournament for Safa Makkah Cup held at Nadi Al-Riyadh Stadium.[17]
Management and key people
Al-Alia International Indian School is owned by Mohammad Hamad Abdullah Al Humaidi, a Kuwaiti educationist,[18] and is managed by a committee of three permanent and eight non-permanent members.[19]
| Principal | In office |
|---|---|
| Ram Dial Thakur | 2003 – 2007 |
| Renjith Alexander | 2007 – 2011 |
| Pious John | 2011 – 2015 |
| Shanu C Thomas | 2015 – 2024 |
| Kavitha Latha Kadhiresan | 2024 – Present |