Embassy New Delhi, India and Constituent Posts - OIG - US ...

Quality of Life
Overseas Schools
(b)(5)(b)(6)
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
has a long history as an outstanding
learning institution. A master plan for capital construction approved by the board in 2010 should
(b)(5)(b)(6)
optimize space utilization on the campus. Currently, there is a relocation project for the
school classrooms and plans for a new library and media room, plus an arts building. Parents’
concerns focused more on special needs students.
(b)(5)(b)(6)
The school’s director was optimistic about resolving the long-standing tax issues
with the Indian Government. The consul general has drafted a memorandum of agreement for the
school with the Maharashtra state government to formalize the status of the school as exempt
from corporate taxes.
(b)(5)(b)(6)
is fully accredited and adequate. The
school is trying to get additional space for classrooms and athletic facilities. Parents were
generally quite satisfied with the school
The Department does not recommend the
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The consulate general’s efforts to open
and sustain an American school failed, and it closed in May 2010 due to high tuition costs and
insufficient enrollment. In the meantime and as the consulate general weighs its alternatives, the
embassy needs to update bidding information (e.g., Bidding Tool, post report, and post profile)
to inform potential bidders of this deficiency.
Informal Recommendation 32: Embassy New Delhi should update bidding information
to inform potential bidders of the lack of adequate schools in Kolkata.
Responses to the OIG survey indicate serious concerns over the availability of quality
education for dependents of consulate staff in Hyderabad. This affects the morale of the four
families that now have school-aged dependents at the consulate general and could negatively
affect retention and recruitment of American staff. Several schools provide educational programs
to the growing expatriate population in Hyderabad, but the Bureau of Overseas Schools regards
as the best choice for consulate dependents (b)(5)(b)(6)
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There is no formal
agreement between (b)(5)(b)(6)
and the consulate general regarding
guaranteed admissions, reserved seats on the board, or other special provisions that often
characterize the relationships between overseas schools and U.S. diplomatic missions. In fact,
has been indifferent at best to the consulate general’s offers of
assistance, even for grants to enhance the physical security of the campus. Post management is
acting to improve relations with the school and help it to meet the consulate general’s needs. The
management officer made a successful bid to gain membership on the school advisory board, and
72
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
(b)(5)(b)(6)