Saudi Arabia is beginning to plan to reopen its schools and universities with a target date of August 30th, according to reports.
The Kingdom closed schools and universities on March 9 after the Coronavirus pandemic was detected in Saudi Arabia and countries worldwide began to shutter to stop the spread of the deadly disease.
Now, with new cases showing a continued and encouraging decline in Saudi Arabia, education authorities are making plans to re-open schools and universities for the new post-Coronavirus school year.
According to a report in Zawya, Education Minister Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh, appointed in 2018 and a graduate of Stanford University, held a virtual meeting with education directors from throughout the Kingdom “to discuss preparations for the big return.”
Saudi Education Minister Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh.
“The minister called for the completion of all maintenance and operational work at schools and educational facilities in preparation for the new term, with full provision of hygiene equipment and sanitizers, and access to books and educational materials. He also urged investment in teacher training on remote education programs.”
The debate on whether to send students back to school in the United States continues to rage, becoming a political issue in a critical election year. The difference is that in Saudi Arabia, cases are on the decline across the Kingdom and have been for weeks, and Saudi Arabia is in position to make a coordinated decision affecting all Saudis. In the United States, cases continue to rise in certain areas at alarming rates. And, with the Trump administration shifting responsibility on Coronavirus prevention and economic reopening to 50 state and thousands of local government authorities, the factors on which to base a decision to reopen schools and resume sports and activities are different from county to county.
Still, some concerned parents in the Kingdom worry about the ability of the virus to spread among children to then be carried back home.
“With children, no matter how careful staff and teachers are, they’re out of control and this could lead to a spread in the pandemic worse than before,” one mother, Amal Turkistani, told Arab News. “I would prefer that they continue schooling remotely, or part-time. I really don’t think it’s a good idea right now when the world hasn’t yet found a cure. I’m not sure if I’ll be sending my son to school.”
