September 11, 2025:
The Election and Investiture Ceremony of the Student Council 2025–2026 (Afternoon Shift) of Shantiniketan Indian School, Doha – Qatar, was held with grandeur and dignity on Thursday, 11th September 2025 at 3:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Hall (MPH). This historic occasion marked the installation of the first Student Council of the Afternoon Shift, symbolizing the school’s commitment to nurturing democratic values, leadership, and responsibility among students.
Election Process
The election process was meticulously planned and executed with transparency, fairness, and active student participation throughout. The timeline of the election was as follows:
- 19th June 2025: Election Notification released
- 20th June 2025: Circulation of election details
- 23rd June 2025: Shortlist of candidates published after scrutiny of nominations (submitted via Google Forms)
- 3rd September 2025: Interviews conducted; the first interview was for Head Boy, Head Girl, and Head Prefect by the Principal, Vice Principal, and Headmaster. Other posts were assessed by panels comprising senior staff and subject teachers.
- 4th September 2025: Campaigning phase, including posters, presentations, and student interactions.
- 7th September 2025: Voting conducted via Google Forms in the Senior Computer Lab.
- 8th September 2025: Counting and validation of votes completed.
- 8th September 2025: Results declared through the PA system by the Vice Principal and Headmaster.
The Presiding Officer was Ms. Ann Miriyam Roy, while Ms. Najma and Ms. Anuja served as the Polling Officers. Ms. Liji extended her valuable support throughout the process. The Presiding Officer efficiently supervised the proceedings.
Campaign
The campaign period was held on 4th September 2025. Candidates expressed their vision through posters, presentations, and personal interactions with their peers. This stage highlighted student engagement, confidence, and creativity, and set the tone for healthy competition.
Voting
Voting was conducted on 7th September 2025 through Google Forms in the Senior Computer Lab. Students from Classes VI–IX participated in the election. Teachers escorted the classes to the lab to ensure discipline and order. The polling was conducted smoothly under the supervision of the Presiding Officer and Polling Officers.
Result Announcement
The votes were counted and validated on 8th September 2025. The results were announced on the same day through the PA system by the Vice Principal and the Headmaster. Eight House Prefect posts were filled by nomination from House Teachers, while the remaining positions were finalized through the democratic election process.
Elected Student Council Members
The following students were entrusted with the responsibility of leading their peers as members of the first Afternoon Shift Student Council 2025–2026:
• Head Boy: Mohammed Ayaz Ibrahim (Topaz, 9A)
• Head Girl: Meenakshi (Sapphire, 9A)
• Head Prefect: Zoha Shakeb Antulay (Topaz, 8A)
• IT Secretary: Amin Hamish (Emerald, 9A)
• Asst. IT Secretary: Zaki Thahsin (Sapphire, 8A)
• Literary Secretary: Shifa Sherin (Ruby, 9A)
• Asst. Literary Secretary: Shiza Koyalayakkarakath (Ruby, 8A)
• Cultural Secretary: Sheema Maryam (Topaz, 9A)
• Asst. Cultural Secretary: Zubeda Begum (Ruby, 8A)
• Sports Captain: Shreya Sandeep (Emerald, 9A)
• Asst. Sports Captain: Rihan Muhammed (Emerald, 8A)
• Ruby House Captain: Izaan Muhammed (8A)
• Emerald House Captain: Aysha Dhiya (8A)
• Sapphire House Captain: Ayisha Abdul Rehim (8A)
• Topaz House Captain: Manha Mahveen (8A)
• Ruby House Prefects: Anshid (8A), Konain (8A)
• Emerald House Prefects: Muhammed Bin Abdul (8A), Anusree (8A)
• Sapphire House Prefects: Aadit Lal (8A), Manha Manaf (8A)
• Topaz House Prefects: Kezia (8A), Kenza (8A)
Investiture Ceremony 2025–2026
The Investiture Ceremony of the Student Council 2025–2026 (Afternoon Shift) of Shantiniketan Indian School, Doha – Qatar was held with grandeur and dignity on Thursday, 11th September 2025 at 3:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Hall (MPH). This historic event marked the installation of the first Student Council of the Afternoon Shift, symbolizing a milestone in the school’s journey of nurturing democratic values, leadership, and responsibility among students.
A Disciplined Beginning
The program commenced with the school prayer, seeking divine blessings for wisdom and guidance. This was followed by the March Past, a disciplined and synchronized display led by the newly elected council members. The PE Teachers, Mr. Tijo and Ms. Justina, deserve special recognition for training the students and arranging the March Past, which added grace, discipline, and grandeur to the occasion.
The National Anthems of Qatar and India, sung by the school choir, elevated the spirit of patriotism and pride.
Anchoring and Welcome
The program was anchored with elegance and confidence by Ms. Ishfa Firdos of Class 9A2, who served as the Master of Ceremony. Her poised narration ensured a smooth flow of the proceedings.
The Welcome Address was delivered by the Headmaster, Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed, who warmly greeted the dignitaries, teachers, parents, and students, and emphasized the importance of leadership and responsibility. In his speech, he expressed deep appreciation for the teachers who made all the arrangements and conducted the election in a meticulous and efficient manner, giving special recognition to the Social Science Department, whose dedication and guidance ensured the smooth and transparent conduct of the entire process.
Conferment of Badges and Sashes
The central highlight of the ceremony was the honoring of the Student Council Members.
• The President of the School, Mr. Rasheed Ahmed,
• The Principal, Mr. Rafeeq Rahim,
• The Vice Principal, Mr. Sujith Kumar, and
• The Headmaster, Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed
jointly conferred the badges and sashes upon the elected leaders. Their act of conferring honors symbolized the faith and trust reposed in the young leaders of the Afternoon Session.
Handover of Flags
The school flag was ceremoniously handed over by the Principal to the Head Boy, Mohammed Ayaz Ibrahim, and Head Girl, Meenakshi, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility and leadership.
In addition, House Flags were presented to the House Captains of Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, and Topaz, marking the spirit of unity, belonging, and healthy competition within the school community.
The Oath of Office
The Head Girl, Meenakshi, led the Student Council members in taking the Oath of Office, solemnly pledging to uphold the values, traditions, and discipline of the school while carrying out their duties with integrity, dedication, and commitment.
Congratulatory Speeches
Inspiring messages and words of encouragement were delivered by:
• Mr. Rasheed Ahmed – President of the School Management Committee
• Mr. Rafeeq Rahim – Principal
• Mr. Sujith Kumar – Vice Principal
• The Operation Manager of the School
• Foundation Section Coordinator, Ms. Sajna,
These speeches collectively motivated the newly invested council members to embrace their responsibilities with confidence and dedication.
Vote of Thanks
The Head Boy, Mohammed Ayaz Ibrahim, delivered a heartfelt Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to the management, Principal, Vice Principal, Headmaster, coordinators, teachers, parents, and fellow students for their unwavering support and encouragement.
Teamwork and Organization
The success of the program was the result of teamwork and coordination. The cooperation of all teachers, the support of non-teaching staff, and the efficient planning of the Election and Investiture Committee ensured that the program was executed in a disciplined, systematic, and organized manner.
The Multipurpose Hall (MPH), filled with dignitaries, teachers, and students, bore witness to an event that radiated pride, unity, and collective spirit.
Conclusion
The Investiture Ceremony 2025–2026 (Afternoon Shift) was not merely a ceremonial event, but a significant milestone in the history of Shantiniketan Indian School. It was a moment of pride as the first Afternoon Shift Student Council took charge, embodying the values of leadership, service, and responsibility.
With the guidance of the Principal, Vice Principal, Headmaster, coordinators, and staff, this first Investiture Ceremony of the Afternoon Shift set a high benchmark for the future, reflecting the unity and collective spirit of the Shantiniketan Indian School community. The event was a resounding success, laying a strong foundation for student leadership in the Afternoon Session, and setting a benchmark for excellence, discipline, and dedication in the years to come.
