Saudi Ministry of Education (MOE) said that all international schools should reschedule their opening to conform with the dates set by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, and defer the start of the new academic year in order to combat the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.
“The directives from the King to extend the summer break were meant for Saudi schools as well as all international and private schools,” said Omima Zahid, Director of the MOE Educational Information Unit.
Although, international schools have been awaiting an official ministry circular, the MOE official told Saudi Gazette, “the directive of deferral was received from the King, not from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, hence international schools should not expect further instructions from the ministries”.
Schools in Saudi Arabia were initially scheduled to open on October 3rd for the start of the academic year 2009-2010, but after the extended summer break they will now begin on October 10th for higher classes and October 17th for lower classes.
Dr. Sadiq Dahlan, Director General of Coral International School in Jeddah said that international school administrators are confused “as they presumed that they would receive an official circular from the MOE, but, as yet, there has been nothing from the ministry”.
“A rumor is also being heard that the schools might be opening after the Haj holidays,” he said.
Contrary to the rumor, Zahid said that there are no such orders up to now. “If the King does not seek further postponement, all schools will start the new academic year delayed by one week for the intermediate and secondary schools, and two weeks for elementary schools and kindergartens,” she said.
On the behalf of the American International School in Jeddah (AISJ), Superintendent, Dr. Mark English sent messages to all parents stating, “As per MOE directive, the school will not open on September 26th. All after-school meetings and activities will also be suspended. We expect to reopen on October 10 (Tentative). We will provide the exact date as soon as we receive it from MOE.”
Rania Kaddoura, a Lebanese mother who has two children studying at AISJ, is not pleased with the sudden extension of the summer holidays. “We travelled during the holidays to return in time for the new school term only to be informed about the delay. Now the children have nothing to do, and we are avoiding taking them out to crowded places due to the swine flu risk.”
The delay has raised a concern in many schools about the loss of studies as well. “It may be difficult for us to cover the syllabus. We still haven’t announced the rescheduling of the start date as we still haven’t received the circular from the Ministry of Education,” said Rafiq-ul-Islam Farooq, Principal of the Bangladesh International School Jeddah (Bengali section).
Bangladesh International School (English Section) will start on September 27th while the Bengali Section will start on October 3rd as per as their earlier planned schedule.
Dahlan plans to increase his school’s timings by an hour daily, organize classes on Thursdays as well as provide online assistance if necessary, in order to keep in line with the syllabus. “These are unexpected holidays, but I do not consider it a big issue to cover the syllabus.”
He said that the main concern is that delaying the start of the academic year will affect next year’s summer vacation, “If this does apply then the next summer holidays will also be delayed,” stated Dahlan.
Pakistan International School Jeddah (PISJ) -Azizyah is less concerned with the delay in the start of schools as “we ended the school term a week later than other schools as we predicted that families might be travelling for Eid and so allowed them time to return,” said Ashfaq Mahmoud, Principle of PISJ-Azizyah.
Mahmoud has requested a medical specialist to present an awareness lecture on swine flu and to perform a health check for students. PISJ will start from October 10th for higher classes and October 17th for lower classes.
Coral International School has also decided to hold a special awareness program for students, parents and teachers. “We have doctors on call at the school and any staff, even with normal flu, will get a one-week holiday without salary reduction as a precaution,” said Dahlan.
Parents are satisfied with the holidays as a preventative measure until the swine flu vaccine becomes available; however, they are also concerned about the loss of studies. “We pay for the whole year and children are getting too many holidays and this will end up being a burden for them. Schools should start online tuition as an alternative,” said Mrs. Muniba Ishtiyaq, a mother with children studying at the Indian International School, Jeddah (IISJ).
Kindergarten to 5th grade classes will begin on October 17th and 6th to 12th grade classes will begin on October 10th at the IISJ.
Principle of Pakistan International School Jeddah- English section (PISJ-ES) Sahar Kamran has requested parents to get their children vaccinated. “The school will arrange awareness and swine flu handling sessions for staff members,” she said.
PISJ-ES will re-open on 10th October for students of class seven and above. Nursery to class six students will resume their studies on Saturday 17th October.
Saudi Gazette asked parents of the Indonesian, Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan communities in the Kingdom if they were willing to have their children vaccinated. “It is good to be cautious and get the necessary preventive vaccine,” was the opinion of most parents.
Indonesian International School in Jeddah is scheduled to start on October 3rd, while Sri Lankan and Philippine International Schools are expected to start as per their initial schedule decided before the summer break. - SG
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