Dear Sir,
Thank you for your report on the CBSE’s decision to discontinue its International (i) curriculum. I am sure most of the parents in Qatar would welcome this move as some of the schools in the country used to force students/parents to take admission in the i curriculum assuring them that they could transfer to the regular one any time but later refused to oblige.
Schools considered this curriculum as a cash cow and there had been many instances of violations of rules at the cost of children’s education.
During private conversations, many teachers and students used to refer to the i curriculum as one designed for weak students, thus making a section of the students second grade pupils.
In my five years of dealing with the i curriculum, I have found the following major challenges: quality education was not offered to children due to lack of qualified teachers; proper study materials were not available; schools lacked resources to deliver the curriculum; high fees with no results; lower level of knowledge compared to students of the same grade; and i-students not being treated at par while pursuing higher education.
Also, parents who left Qatar before their children completed the board exam found it difficult to get admission for their wards in India since there were only a few schools that followed this curriculum back home.
Some of the schools have already started a campaign for the reinstatement of the i curriculum by asking parents to sign a protest memo addressed to the CBSE and India’s HRD Minister.
I request the Indian Embassy and Qatar’s Ministry of Education to advise Indian schools to follow the decisions taken by the CBSE.
(Name withheld )
Need for footbridges to cross Doha roads
Dear Sir,
With reference to the news titled “Pedestrians, motorists urged to observe rules” in Gulf Times on February 3, I think the Ministry of Interior has reminded the public of a very pertinent issue. While trying to cross Doha roads, several people end up with serious injuries and some even lose their lives. Accidents are more common on roads with higher speed limits like 100kmph.
It is highly appreciated that the authorities are taking several steps like fencing the median to prevent people from crossing “risky” roads. To a certain extent this is a good proactive measure to check accidents.
However, pedestrians are facing a huge problem to cross roads where the median has been fenced off for a long distance. In the absence of any footbridge or a subway, people have to walk long distances, some times up to a kilometre, to find a place where they can cross.
In some cases, desperate pedestrians have cut into the fence or bent it to squeeze through to reach the other side of the road. This practice is very dangerous and people who resort to such tactics may have to pay a very dear price.
It is my humble request to the authorities to provide bridges or subways at vantage points, along with the fencing to save people’s lives.
Another matter of concern is the shortage/unavailability of toilets and drinking water facilities at public places like the Corniche and the parks.
O Balakrishnan. Doha
Federer shows the way
Dear Sir,
Roger Federer’s victory in the Australian Open Tennis final against Rafael Nadal on January 29 has gone down in the annals of men’s tennis history given that he won it when he was 36 years old and that it was his 18th Grand Slam title.
Further, his roaring success gives us the message that a great deal of preparation and self-confidence are indispensable for us to succeed in any field of our choice and that we should not lose hope of getting what we want despite some setbacks. Further, he has driven home the point that age is not a stumbling block to achieving something great. He has, thus, set an example to all those striving to excel in their respective fields.
C Robinson, [email protected]
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