‘Celebration of Excellence ' came into its own again, when Hejaaz International School held its Annual Prize Giving on July 21, at the Bishop's College Auditorium. The Minister of Education, Mr. Bandula Gunawardene was the Chief Guest, while Mr. T.K.Azoor, Principal of Zahira College, Colombo, graced the occasion as Guest of Honour. The welcome address was made by the Head Prefect of the Boys' Section, Arshad Refai.
The Principal, Mrs. Zarina Hizbullah in her speech, stressed the importance of a 'World Class Education' for Sri Lankans and called for a radical change in our approach to the subject. She applauded President, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa's efforts to make English readily available for use by the common man, and his initiative in setting up a Presidential Task Force to boost the study of English and Information Technology.
The award for the Outstanding Hejaazite of the Year, a prize for the student adjudged as having maintained the highest level of discipline , loyalty and dedication, was handed over by the Minister to Shahan Fareez. The Neina Mohamed Memorial Challenge Award for Best Overall General Proficiency, presented by the Director, Mr. N. N. M. Hizbullah himself, was received from the Chief Guest by Nabil Nawaz. Faaza Nazeem received the award for the best Overall performance in English. This was also the occasion to felicitate a long-standing member of the staff, Mrs. S. S. Mohamed, for her years of loyal service.
The Guest of Honour, Mr. T. K. Azoor, in his address to the gathering, emphasized the role of parents in the structure of Education. A special focus on youth was necessary, he stated if we are to protect our youth from the tragedy of drugs and unruly behaviour. He referred to the Islamic concept of Mashura, a tradition of regular discussion within the family as an excellent aid to safeguard and strengthen the growing child.
The Vote of Thanks, given by the Head Prefect of the Girls' section, Zuhara Zahiruddin, brought the proceedings to a close. |
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