Last night we had a fun chat about OOEHS and 40 years of education.
Success Saga of ‘Our Own’, Dubai
Like the legendary and beautiful Arabian horse, Dubai gallops ahead leaving onlookers mesmerized. Thanks to the vision and dynamism of its rulers, their innovative approach, commitment to quality and ambition to excel, Dubai has stunned the world by its mind-boggling growth and development.
‘Our Own’, Dubai reflects this phenomenal growth in its own saga of development albeit in a very different sphere. Originally the flagship of the Varkey Group of Schools, today it sets the ‘gold standard’ amongst all the Indian schools under the banner of GEMS Education, one of the largest provider of quality education in the world.
The name “Our Own” struck a chord in the hearts of thousands of parents who placed their trust in “Our Own’ over the last four decades. For a school to arrive at its fortieth year in a country which in itself is only thirty-six years old is indeed a unique achievement. This speaks volumes for our Founder’s foresight and vision when way back in 1959, the Late Mr. K. S. Varkey realized that with Dubai’s future there was need for a school where young minds would stretch and confidence soar, both academically and personally. Far ahead of his time, Mr. Varkey realized the importance of service, diversity, international understanding and adventure as integral parts of a strong academic curriculum. Forty years later, these ideals have become a model for education in the 21st century.
Mrs. Mariamma Varkey joined her husband in 1961. Initially they both conducted coaching classes in the English Language for local children in Bur Dubai, in what was known as the Varkey School and the first pupil was a young boy named John Varkey! The success of this beginning encouraged our Founder to establish a formal school and thus, was born the first ‘Our Own’ in August 1968 with twenty-seven students and three teachers. It was housed in Bastakiya behind the Old Diwan Amir.
As it grew in size and stature, the school was moved to the Zabeel Area. Initially, students were housed in port-a-cabins, eventually moving into the building it is in at present. A few years later, Our Own was affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi in 1982: ample proof that ‘Our Own’ had come of age … there has been no looking back since.
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Under the dynamic leadership of the Chairman Mr. Sunny Varkey, the School moved onto another orbit altogether. Today ‘Our Own’ boasts of being one of the largest schools in the world, providing quality education to hundreds of thousands of students. With the demand for admission far outstripping the space available, for several years an afternoon session was inevitable … the Kindergarten and girls were in the morning while the boys filled the afternoon. However, in March 2005, the boys moved into a custom built facility in Al Warqa’a doing away with the need for the afternoon shift. Today, the community numbers over eleven thousand pupils and staff in two premises.
The curriculum followed till Grade VIII is such that, at the end of this stage, students are ready for any syllabus which leads to a public exam, be it under the Indian, British, American, Pakistani or Sri Lankan systems. English is, and has always been, the medium of instruction. Besides it, the other languages taught are Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam and French. At the end of Grades X and XII, students take the All India Secondary School Examination and the All India Senior School Certificate Examination respectively, conducted by the CBSE at Delhi. At the senior secondary level pupils have the option to study various combinations of subjects in the Science, Commerce and Arts streams.
Our Own is now known for the provision of a solid academic foundation and a rich extra curricular programme grounded in four core values – World Citizenship, Universal Values, Leadership Qualities and Forward Thinking.
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The school’s motto ‘Lead Kindly Light’ is a guiding beacon for all.
Celebrating Achievement
Our Own English High School has unveiled its plans for celebrating its 40th anniversary year from February 8, 2008 on the school campus with over 3000 guests, including current and former students, their families, faculty, staff and well wishers. With guests including the Consul General of India in Dubai, the day's festivities will celebrate the school’s rich history through performances that highlight the talent of Our Own students. Simultaneously, the multimedia display will provide a visual history of the development and achievement of ‘Our Own’ in the last four decades. On this special occasion, ‘Our Own’ honours its esteemed Founder simultaneous with the celebration of the extraordinary educational environment created here.
We will be celebrating our 40th year with considerable pride in our achievement,” says Shobhana Verghese, Executive Principal. “We look forward to the future with confidence, building significantly on the very solid foundation our first four decades provided. The school has become an integral part of Dubai, as well as in the wider United Arab Emirates education sector. We also value highly our partnerships with local people and as we celebrate this anniversary, acknowledge the support and guidance of various officials from within the Ministry of Education. Together, we’ve built a unique school which I am confident will continue to serve the region and the country well. I encourage everyone to join us over the course of the celebration and share in our joy,” says Ms. Verghese
In her ‘Fabulous Forties,’ ‘Our Own’ shines.
