JEDDAH, 22 October 2003 — The Education Ministry has launched a student shoura (consultative) council program in the country’s boys’ schools in a bid to promote constructive dialogue among students and to give them a platform to express their views.
The program, which is to cover 70 Riyadh schools in the first phase, comes as part of the government’s efforts to fight extremism. It is also intended to promote student-to-student interaction and give them a role in the management of school affairs.
According to a report carried by Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, the program was launched at the beginning of the current academic year (2003-04). Shoura councils will be set up in 70 more schools next year, the paper said quoting Dr. Abdullah Al-Muailey, director of education in the Riyadh region.
Dr. Al-Muailey said the main objective of the student councils was to correct wrong concepts and ideas among students. “The program will also enhance students’ confidence in their abilities, develop their leadership qualities and give them an opportunity to prove their worth by participating in the planning, preparation and organization of school programs,” he said.
The program — named “The School We Want” — would contribute to bringing up a new generation of students with a sense of responsibility, the paper said. One student from each class will be selected to the shoura council, which will meet every month. School authorities will have the last word about the proposals the councils make. The ministry intends to establish shoura councils in all boys’ schools within the next four years.
