Girls schools stage sports events

After approval from the Ministry of Education, two local girls schools have established sports clubs and organized tournaments for their students.
The 18 High School Jeddah recently concluded its football league and launched basketball, tennis and running events, a local newspaper reported. This is the second school to establish sport clubs, the first being 50 High School that was established under the umbrella of the project entitled "School Leadership Internship." Girls schools are numbered in Saudi Arabia.
English teacher Lubna Al-Betawi, founder of the football club, said the final game involved two teams named Manchester United and Chelsea. "For the record, Chelsea won the game 3-1 and received a prize of SR 1,000," said Al-Betawi.
She said the club also organizes other activities including courses on foreign languages, arts and innovations. However, the club faces a few obstacles including the small size of the schoolyard and a lack of financial resources.
Jummana Bukhari, a student and coordinator of the club, said the club plans to establish a national league with the participation of other schools in the Kingdom. "This will enhance competition and the performance of participating schools."
An education expert at Jeddah Education Department, Maymunah Mirza, said the launch of sports clubs is aimed at developing all-round talents of girl students. "Education has improved at the school since the start of the project," she asserted.
"There is no doubt that such programs and activities boost the general performance of the school, making it an attractive environment for girls and teachers alike." She said 18 High School is clear evidence that such projects work while adhering to the Kingdom's culture and laws.