The girls accused the university of unfairness in the selection of high school graduates for various university programs.

The confusion spread as parents waiting outside rushed to the enrollment office to see what was happening to their daughters.

Minister of Higher Education Khaled Al-Anqari played down the violent ruckus by the girls at the university, instead calling it “rushing.”

“The girls’ behavior was only an expression of their strong desire to get a seat quickly. Many of them rushed forward on the impression that they would get a seat if they reached the counter before others,” Al-Anqari told Arab News when queried about the incidents in the university.

The minister assured students that the number of available seats in the university would accommodate all high school graduates. He said registration and enrollment are still continuing in the university. There are also parallel programs and community colleges for those who wish to continue their education at university level, he said.

The minister requested girls and their parents to exercise patience.

“University officials are striving to provide the programs chosen by the applicants,” he said, adding that admission to engineering and medical degrees was subject to certain competitive tests because seats in those two faculties were fewer than the applicants.

“The students who did not get seats in medical or engineering classes do not desire to join other majors, which are by no means less important and are also in great demand in the job market,” the minister pointed out.

The minister denied the notion that graduates of community colleges did not get jobs adding, “All community college graduates find jobs. No one needs to be reluctant to study in community colleges.”

The minister also denied any move to bring all colleges of technology in the Kingdom under the control of the Ministry of Higher Education. The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation is currently running such institutes.

There have been reports of ruckuses from Umm Al-Qura university in Makkah and Taibah University in Madinah recently. Most of the protesting students complained that admission procedures were not fair and that favoritism was a major factor to obtain a university seat.

The dean of university studies in Umm Al-Qura University, Nour Qarout, was relieved of her position following two incidents of trouble over enrollment procedures last week. Parents had tried to break the windows to get their daughters out when the trouble started in the university, it was reported.

In Taibah University, girls and mothers questioned the soundness of the admission procedures as many girls with outstanding academic records were denied admission after enrollment officials said the more than 19,000 seats in the university had been filled.

Al-Anqari denied any irregular practice in the university admission procedures saying that enrollment procedures in universities were fair and transparent and any violation would be rectified.