Students from Pakistan International School (PIS) showed great enthusiasm and involvement while celebrating the country’s National Defence Day at their school recently.
The school arranged a big programme to celebrate the day – which falls on September 6 – and the students presented a variety of performances highlighting the significance of the day.
The programme started at about 9am and the students kept a good number of audience involved for about two hours.
The celebrations were started with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by Muhammad Musa, a student of 10th grade. After the recitation, the introduction of the events of the programme was presented by a senior school teacher.
The main feature of the programme was a talk show presented by nine students, four boys and four girls of 12th grades. The students, presenting as different characters, highlighted the causes and effects of the 1965 war and laid stress on need of peace through education and economic progress.
The students also underlined the horrific effects of the war, while eulogising the martyrs of the war.
Talking to Community, Muhammad Affan, one of the participants of the talk show, said, “We highlighted primarily the courage shown by personnel of our armed forces 52 years ago. The martyrs were praised for their valour and courage. They gave away their lives for defending their country.”|
The student added, “At the same time, the basic theme of the talk show was achieving peace through education and progress. If more and more people in our country are educated and become prosperous, they will favour peace with neighbouring countries. It is only education that can take our nation forward. Through education we can achieve our aims. Furthermore, prosperity through education will also help bring social and economic betterment in the country.”
A senior female school teacher presented a poem praising the national heroes and urged on the people to work hard for Pakistan’s better future.
Muhammad Irfan Taj, defence attache at the Pakistani embassy, was the chief guest. He said it is necessary to get our younger generations acquainted with the country’s history. He said that the schools need to teach the students how to remember and appreciate the sacrifices made by the armed forces in line of their duty.
Talking to the school administration after the programme ended, the defence attache laid stress on character building of the students. He said that role of a teacher is very important in character building of students. He urged on the teachers to guide their students in such a way as to improve their morals and build their characters.
Taj said, “Education is very necessary but good character is very much needed. These children are our future. They need to be taught how to respect their elders and how to remember their national heroes.”
He added, “The school is situated in Qatar, which has very good ties with Pakistan. Teachers should also pay extra attention towards teaching students how to live and interact with other communities in Doha. I will suggest bringing prominent figures of other communities to your school on occasion of different events and functions. It will help the students and at the same time the other communities will also learn something about Pakistan.”
At the end of the programme, PIS Principal Nargis Raza Otho thanked the chief guest, other guests, teachers, and the students for making the celebrations remarkable. She appreciated the suggestions of the chief guest and said that the school will invite people from other communities on important events.
Talking to the Community, the principal said, “The PIS is the largest Pakistani school in Qatar. It was started in 1985 and since then has steadily been making upward progress. We have about 3,700 children and we primarily cater to Pakistani students but we are not limited only to the community. The school is open for students from all communities.”
The main feature of the programme was a talk show featuring nine students.
