Shoura: Revamp girls schools to ensure safety

The Shoura Council suggested during a discussion on the Ministry of Education’s annual report on Monday that girls schools in the Kingdom should be re-designed to ensure safety and security for students as well as teachers. The Committee on Educational Affairs and Scientific Research submitted its observations on the report at the regular session chaired by the council's president, Abdullah Al-Asheikh. In his opening remarks on Monday, Al-Asheikh welcomed the heads of state and other senior officials of the GCC countries who are coming to the capital to attend the 32nd GCC Summit, which is to be held on Tuesday. The chairman also congratulated former Shoura Council Vice Chairman Bandar Al-Hajjar on his appointment as minister of Haj and also its former deputy chairman Abdul Rahman Al-Barrak as minister of the civil service. He said the two new appointments to the Council of Ministers from among Shoura members was not only an honor for the council but also recognized the services rendered by Shoura members toward the country’s development. Al-Asheikh also welcomed the two newly appointed vice chairmen Dr. Mohammed bin Amin Jafri and Dr. Fahd bin Hamad, who succeeded Al-Hajjar and Al-Barrak respectively. According to Shoura Council Secretary-General Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, a wide range of opinions were expressed by the members on various aspects of the programs and projects undertaken by the Ministry of Education. He said the members appreciated the interest displayed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah that had immensely contributed to rapid progress in the sector. A Shoura member stressed the need for redesigning girls schools in the Kingdom not only to provide adequate security and safety for students and teachers in the schools but also to create a conducive environment for them. Detailing the problems faced by women teachers, it was suggested that every girls school should have a nursery section for teachers' children. It was said that such an arrangement could help teachers provide childcare. Preparing the report, the Committee on Educational Affairs and Scientific Research had received contributions from academics, women consultants and senior officials from the King Abdullah Public Education Development Project, which envisages the possibility of employing 52,000 graduates who will be passing out from university in the education sector soon. It was suggested that more job opportunities could be provided if the Ministry of Education sets up preschools and increase the number of primary schools in the Kingdom. The committee felt that there should be strong student-teacher relations for better education. It was also suggested that classrooms must not be overcrowded as this could impair the learning process. The debate was postponed for a subsequent session.