Bhatkal: The foundation stone for a new building of Ittihad Public School, located at Valki in the Sharavathi belt of neighbouring Honnavar taluk near Bhatkal, was laid on Wednesday. The ceremony was led by Maulana Khaja Moinuddin Akrami Madani, Qazi of Markazi Khalifa Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen Bhatkal.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdullah Sukri, General Secretary of the Sharavathi Muslim Council, said the school was established in 2016 and initially functioned from small classrooms with limited facilities. The present school building, he said, was later constructed with the financial support of Irshad Siddiqa, President of the Bhatkal Muslim Jamaat, Eastern province (Saudi Arabia).
He said a new building had become necessary in view of the steady increase in student enrolment, the need for improved facilities for girl students, and the institution's future expansion plans. The new block is being funded by Irshad Siddiqa as Sadaqah Jariyah (a continuing charitable act) in memory of his mother.
Dr. Sukri said Ittihad Public School is an English-medium institution that offers both modern education and Islamic studies, including Hifz-e-Quran. He added that the school's SSLC batch for the 2025–26 academic year achieved a 100 per cent pass result.
Among those present were Dr. Ateequr Rahman Muniri, General Secretary of the Bhatkal Rabita society and Chairman of SahilOnline Media, office-bearers of various social and educational organisations, representatives of Jamaats from the Sharavathi belt, and several dignitaries from Bhatkal.
The programme concluded with a special prayer by Maulana Khaja Moinuddin Akrami Madani.