Renowned musical maestro Stephen Devassy and his band delivered a spellbinding performance in Dubai last evening at Grand Hyatt Hotel, captivating the audience with their electrifying fusion of melody, rhythm, and unmatched stage energy. The evening was made even more special with the esteemed presence of Mrs. Sudha Murty, Indian educator, author, and philanthropist and the Founder-Chairperson of the non-profit charitable organization Infosys Foundation, adding grace and prominence to the event. From soulful renditions, bollywood classics to high-energy instrumental pieces, the show left the crowd mesmerized and applauding for more, marking a memorable celebration of musical brilliance.
(Seen in the picture – Mrs. Sudha Murty and musician Stephen Devassy)
The musical night was in sync with the The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Bharat (India), inaugurating the 1st International and 31st two days Annual Conference of Sahodaya School Complexes in Dubai, marking a historic milestone in CBSE’s journey towards global collaboration in education.
- Stephen Devassy and his band took the audience by storm with their musical brilliance at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai.
About the event:
With the theme “Rooted in Wisdom, Rising with Vision – Reimagining Education through NEP 2020,” the conference brought together over 8,00 CBSE school leaders and educationists from India and the Gulf region to deliberate on the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and to explore innovative pathways for future-ready education.
The inaugural session began with greetings by Ms. Meenal Bakshi, President of the Executive Committee, followed by the welcome address by Dr. Praggya M. Singh, Professor and Director (Academics), CBSE. Shri Himanshu Gupta, Secretary, CBSE, in his address, highlighted the Board’s growing international presence and reiterated CBSE’s vision of evolving as a Global Board, fostering collaboration among Indian schools worldwide.
Shri Satish Sivan, Consul General of India, Dubai, lauded CBSE’s leadership in promoting quality education and cultural integration, stating that Dubai as a global hub of innovation and diversity provides an ideal platform for this international dialogue on education. Shri Dheeraj Sahu, Additional Secretary, DoSEL, Ministry of Education, underlined the Government of India’s focus on effective NEP 2020 implementation through collaboration between policymakers and educators.
Shri Rahul Singh, Chairperson, CBSE, in his keynote, described Sahodaya as the “living embodiment of collaboration and academic excellence.” He reiterated that this year’s conference, held beyond India’s borders for the first time, symbolizes the Board’s aspiration to be a truly global board responsive to the needs of Indian students worldwide.
Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Smt. Sudha Murty, graced the event as the Chief Guest and inspired the audience with her reflections on blending traditional values with modern educational approaches. In her address, she emphasized that education is not merely about filling young minds with facts, but about igniting compassion, creativity, and a love for lifelong learning. She reminded the principals that they play a vital role in shaping the values of tomorrow’s citizens through every decision they make. Smt. Murty highlighted that the true success of a school lies not in marks alone, but in moulding responsible and empathetic human beings.
The event also witnessed the launch of the CBSE Holistic Progress Card (Middle Stage), promoting multidimensional assessment in line with NEP 2020.
Senior regulators and officials from the GCC Ministries of Education including Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE (Dubai–KHDA, Abu Dhabi–ADEK, Sharjah–SPEA) held constructive discussions with senior functionaries from CBSE, the Government of India, and the Consul General of India in Dubai on the forthcoming launch of the CBSE Global Curriculum from April 2026. They welcomed the initiative and agreed to explore collaboration on curriculum contextualization, teacher training, and vocational and technical education. The Regulators also discussed teacher qualification standards, equivalence benchmarks, and global recognition of CBSE certificates, while appreciating the Board’s commitment to maintaining a balance between academic rigour and affordability. They expressed full support for the Global Curriculum and commended CBSE schools in the Gulf region for their strong compliance, quality, and student performance.
The inaugural session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. Ram Shankar, Professor and Director, CBSE Regional Office and Centre of Excellence, Dubai.
