In our schools, in many ways girls are equal to boys. Let me count the ways. The syllabuses are different; security within the schools is different, and to top it all off, girls in government schools are not allowed to have physical education classes. The question is of course: Why? We have asked teachers, principals and officials but no real answer has been given. At the same time, boys’ schools do offer physical education classes. In some private girls’ schools, however, physical education is offered — with no fanfare and no publicity: Very quiet and very unobtrusive. In all Saudi cities, there are private health clubs for women but these of course charge fees. Girls are free to go to the gym if they want to and can afford the charges. Can everybody afford the fees? Certainly not.
It is surely ironic that private schools keep a low profile about teaching PE so that they don’t receive an official reprimand. And the backdrop to all this is that we constantly hear voices complaining of girls wasting their time by strolling endlessly through shopping centers. Have we as a society given them much of an alternative? What do we offer them? They have needs which should be fulfilled and we are not allowing them basic healthy outlets for their energy. Of course, PE in schools and team sports with competitions between schools would be an excellent basic healthy outlet. Or do we prefer that both our girls and boys waste their spare time, essentially doing nothing?
The matter of physical education for girls rests ultimately with the Ministry of Education. I asked several teachers why the subject was not offered and nobody seemed to know though one word did occur over and over: "Regulations." One teacher said that when she began her career, she asked the headmistress why there was no PE for girls and all she got was a mysterious "Don’t ask about that." Another educator told me sarcastically that new teachers always argue about the importance of PE but of course, new teachers are looked at as "new" and "enthusiastic" who will sooner or later fall in line.
So since the reason for depriving our girls of some much-needed basic healthy exercise is never stated, we are left to wonder. It must be a big secret since it is so well-guarded by such high-ranking officials. Logical thinking will get us nowhere since logically every student should improve both mind and body as integral parts of education. Here we are with a number of unanswered questions — which is really right back where we started from. Why do boys’ schools have PE? Boys participate in all kinds of sports. There are competitions between schools in football, swimming and basketball, for example. Such activities keep their minds and bodies healthy. It also makes them appreciate the value of team work and cooperation which are of inestimable worth to all people. Why are girls deprived of this?
We need to start with some basics. The ancient Romans strove for "a healthy mind in a healthy body." Shouldn’t our girls be given the opportunity to achieve both? If girls were allowed to take PE, it would begin to change some unfavorable impressions of our society; women are restricted in many ways here and are not fully used to help our society develop and progress. This is not their fault and it should, in many cases, be changed. Allowing PE in girls’ schools would be an important first step toward some of those needed changes.