JEDDAH, 8 September — Interior Minister Prince Naif stated yesterday that there was no change in the Kingdom’s girls education after its merger with the Ministry of Education.
"Everybody in the Kingdom and abroad should know that there will be no change in girls education," he said while addressing education officials.
"The girls’ education system will remain as it was before," the minister, adding that what had taken place was nothing more than administrative procedures.
"We should give education utmost importance and should try to achieve higher standard," he told the education minister and education directors.
Prince Naif urged the officials to make teaching of Islam at schools an attractive and joyful experience. "This will lead students to like this subject and help them grow up as good citizens," he said.
"Students must learn Islam to live in accordance with its teachings and practice its morals. But we should not make Islam a burdensome topic," he added.
The interior minister said that adherence of students as well as the general public to Islamic teachings would make life easier for security officers in the country.
Prince Naif strongly urged educators to uphold their responsibility and pay careful attention to students.
Prince Naif received Education Minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Rasheed, officials of the Ministry of Education and directors of boys and girls education in the Kingdom.
Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, chaired a meeting of the Supreme Committee for Education Policy last week. The meeting was attended by 10 ministers.
The two meetings highlight the importance given by Saudi authorities to education, which takes about a quarter of the country’s national budget.
Prince Naif said the government and people were pinning great hope on the education minister and directors in various parts of the country.
