Saudi Education Ministry weighs distance learning with return to classroom

Some parents believe that classroom learning is more effective, but they are reluctant to send their children back to schools for fear they might contract COVID-19. (SPA)
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Updated 05 October 2020
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Saudi Education Ministry weighs distance learning with return to classroom

  • Classes are being held online to ensure social distancing and curb the spread of the virus.

JEDDAH: Parents of school-age children in the Kingdom are anxiously waiting for the news about the reopening of schools as many of them are concerned about the upcoming flu season and the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Saudi Minister of Education Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh said his ministry evaluated the remote educational process after 5 weeks of its implementation since the beginning of the school year and submitted the results to the higher authorities and the Health Ministry to decide whether to return to traditional schooling or continue with distance learning.

The school year in the Kingdom began on Aug. 30. Due to the pandemic, classes are being held online to ensure social distancing and curb the spread of the virus.

The wait is keeping parents on their toes as many have already adjusted to home schooling their children and are now afraid of what to expect next especially given the rise in cases after the resumption of schools in the UK, US and other countries.

According to Al-Sheikh, distance learning has now become a strategic option for the future, requiring continuous development.

Some parents believe that classroom learning is more effective, but they are reluctant to send their children back to schools for fear they might contract COVID-19.

“I am hesitant to have them go back to school. In the classroom, they focus better and absorb more information. At the same time, I’m scared because children’s immune systems are weak and still developing, so they contract viruses quickly. I would prefer it if they continue this semester electronically,” said Dina Al-Nahari, mother of two daughters aged 8 and 5.

Online learning carries some disadvantages, such as technical glitches, audiovisual problems or internet connectivity issues.

“It is a good platform, but there were a few shortcomings in certain classes. Some teachers rely on videos to give examples and when students have a question, sometimes the teacher cannot hear them,” Al-Nahari told Arab News.

“My daughters relied on me more to explain certain chapters. I would come home from work at 2:30 p.m. and immediately log onto the platform. The girls would mute their microphones to ask me what was being displayed, and I would explain it to them.”

Dr. Rafat Mosalli, an associate professor of pediatrics at Umm Al-Qura University, said there has not been any evidence that primary schools are the main source of COVID-19 infections in children.

He advised parents to tackle the issue calmly.

“School closures have had a negative impact on children’s health — their educational, physical, psychosocial and mental development — as well as on family wellness and the overall economy,” he told Arab News.

“As we enter the second semester (of online learning), children are psychologically accustomed to the house now,” said Mosalli.

“Children fear the image they have created in their minds about the virus, which they see as a monster. They are consumed by the idea that they might be harmed greatly by the virus. It is a global psychological problem.

“Whether a child can go back to school depends on their health condition, the current transmission rate of COVID-19 within our community, and the protective measures that schools, the health sector and the community have put in place to reduce the risk of transmission — all of which are very satisfactory,” he said.

“Children who are suffering from certain conditions such as asthma, obesity, cancer or premature babies with weak immune systems are at higher risk of developing severe diseases than children without other health conditions,” Mosalli said.

He said children under the age of 14 represent less than 8 percent of the reported cases worldwide, with fewer deaths.

“The symptoms are usually mild. We still need further international and national studies to better understand transmission of the virus in this age group,” Mosalli said.

While current evidence suggests the risk of complication and death in children is lower overall than for adults, special precautions still need be taken to minimize the risk of infection among children.

“The overall benefits of returning to school should also be considered,” Mosalli added.
 


KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen

Updated 7 sec ago
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KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen

RYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues with its humanitarian activities in Syria and Yemen with the distribution of food supplies, health kits and prosthetic services.

In the town of Beit Yashout, Jabla District of Syria’s Latakia Governorate, 499 families each received boxes containing a bag of flour as well as personal care kits on Saturday, state news agency SPA reported.

In Jindires of Aleppo Governorate, KSrelief distributed 1,476 food boxes and 1,476 health kits while in Talbiseh of Homs Governorate the aid agency on Thursday handed out to 86 families food parcels, each containing a 10-kilogram bag of flour, along with winter kits and personal care kits on Thursday.

This initiative is part of the Kingdom’s continuous humanitarian efforts, through KSrelief, to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people during various crises and hardships, SPA reported.

Meanwhile in Yemen, the Project for Operating Artificial Limbs and Rehabilitation Center in Taiz provided medical services to 434 beneficiaries who lost their limbs in December last year.

The center, being supported by KSrelief, delivered 1,613 services including the delivery, measurement and maintenance of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy and specialized consultations.


UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh

Updated 11 January 2025
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UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh

  • Welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy FM Waleed Al-Khuraiji

RIYADH: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Riyadh on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He was welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji.

Sheikh Abdullah is in the Kingdom to attend an expanded ministerial meeting on Syria to be hosted by Saudi Arabia on Sunday, SPA added.

New Syrian foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani also arrived in Riyadh on Saturday evening to participate in the ministerial meeting.

He was also welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Al-Khuraiji.


Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace

Updated 11 January 2025
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Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace

  • The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved gunmen attempting to storm the palace

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday strongly condemned the recent attack on the presidential palace in N’Djamena, Chad, which left 19 people dead, including a soldier guarding the complex, and injured others.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s steadfast support for Chad’s security and stability, while rejecting any actions that threaten the country’s peace, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In its statement, the Ministry extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the fallen soldier and to the government and people of Chad. The Kingdom also wished a swift recovery for those injured in the assault.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved gunmen reportedly linked to Boko Haram attempting to storm the presidential palace, prompting a fierce battle.

The Chadian government confirmed that 18 attackers from a 24-member commando unit were killed in the fighting, alongside one security personnel. Tanks were deployed to secure the area.


GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Updated 11 January 2025
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GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

  • Al-Budaiwi congratulated Kingston on his appointment as New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in his duties

RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Al-Budaiwi recently received New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Charles Kingston at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh.

Al-Budaiwi congratulated Kingston on his appointment as New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in his duties, the General Secretariat wrote in a report.

During the meeting, they also discussed a number of topics of mutual interest, notably the progress of negotiations for the free trade agreement between the GCC countries and updates on the joint action plan between the two sides. They also exchanged views on several regional and international issues.​

 

 


Saudi authority issues health warning on food import

Updated 11 January 2025
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Saudi authority issues health warning on food import

RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority issued a warning about Country Butcher Boy beef pepperoni, manufactured in the UAE.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the 250-gram packages with an expiration date of March 1, 2025, are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium posing serious health risks, confirmed by lab tests.

The authority advised the public to avoid consuming the product and dispose of any units they may have.

Steps have been taken to remove the contaminated product from the market, and regulatory action is being pursued against the importing company, the SPA reported.

Violations of food laws can result in severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison, fines of up to SR10 million ($2.6 million), or both.

The authority reiterated its commitment to food safety and will continue taking action against violators. Consumers can report food safety concerns to the authority’s call center at 19999.