ISB to assess financial status, academic defects
The Indian School Bahrain (ISB) is running an operating deficit of BD30,000 per month and the accumulated debt of the school has reached BD1.3 million. “The weak financial status of the school will be discussed during Annual General Meeting of the school, which will be held on December 4,” informed Prince S. Natarajan, Chairman, ISB.
Speaking to media persons yesterday, Natarajan said the school had an outstanding debt of BD300,000 when the earlier executive committee handed them over the management.
“All efforts have been put to improve the financial condition of the institution. But the school needs a sustainable solution, as it can’t go ahead with mounting deficits,” he said.
To know the academic strengths and weaknesses of the school, the management recently conducted academic auditing by a team of four experts accredited by the Centre Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
They audited the academic staff, using 10 parameters, including teachers’ communication skills, content delivery ability, classroom management, interactive mode and time management etc.
“The experts stated that 19 per cent of 720 ISB teachers needed immediate attention to improve their quality,” Natarajan revealed. “This report will also be presented during the AGM and steps will be taken for the training of these teachers, after the approval of the AGM.”
Natarajan said prime focus had been given to the academic quality of the school and teachers had been channelised towards the academic activities, adding that ample measures in the academic arena would be in place soon.
Entrance academy
The ISB Chairman said that the Ministry of Education (MoE) had given permission to the school to open an entrance academy.
“Currently, about 50 to 60 students of Class 11 and 12 have been undergoing coaching under this academy. Next year, students of other classes would also utilise the service of entrance academy,” said Natarajan.
Highlighting the changes done in transport deal, he said that the current school management had given contracts for Riffa and Isa Town campus to different companies, saving more money for the school.
“Earlier, same transport company had been handling the transport of students in both campuses, resulting in escalation of various issues like delay in the transport of students. The new deal not only saved the money, but also made the transport of students convenient,” the Chairman explained.
He said GPS system was being implemented and the management had given them a time period of six months to install the system. “The school would have a back end support system like a call centre, where parents and staff members could contact and take information.”
Natarajan commented that the issue of student- staff ratio had been a major challenge for the school as the MoE had already warned the management to find a solution for it.
Prince S. Natarajan, Chairman, ISB (fourth from left) addresses the media yesterday
Related Posts