JEDDAH, 13 September 2003 — Education Minister Dr. Muhammad Al-Rasheed yesterday urged the country’s five million students — who return to classes today after a three-month-long summer holiday — to shun violence and help protect the Kingdom’s security and national unity.
In a message to students, teachers and parents on the occasion of the new academic year, the minister also advised the students to be wise in their choices and aware of the consequences of their actions. “Mercy should replace violence and reason must prevail over recklessness,” he said.
“We are all partners in maintaining and protecting security. We should also do our duty by strengthening our national unity and fight the forces that promote disunity,” he said. “Our duty is to stop evil before it happens and root out deviation in both thought and action,” he added.
According to a report carried by Al-Watan, the Education Ministry has revised 32 school textbooks for the new academic year. They include books on tawheed (monotheism) for classes four to six at the primary level and class one of the secondary level.
History of Saudi Arabia for Class III secondary and English language books for Class I intermediate are other textbooks that have been revised for the new academic year. The changes in English textbooks are in preparation for the introduction of the language to primary level (from Class VI) next year.
There are 28,400 schools of various levels in the Kingdom with 4.69 million students and 400,000 teachers. Saudi Arabia allocates about one-third of its budget for the sector.
In his message, Al-Rasheed urged students to compete in mastering science and technology. He also advised them to practice Islamic morals and ethics.
The minister emphasized the role of parents in the early years of their children’s education. “Don’t expect everything from the school because the school does not expect everything from you,” he said, adding that study at home was complementary to school education.
“Schools, teachers and administrators are partners of parents in the education of their children. Every partner should do his duty fully and to the best of his ability to realize our objectives and aspirations,” he said and called on parents to pay more attention to their children’s education.
Al-Rasheed said his ministry would go ahead with its reform program for the benefit of the new generation and the country. The program includes a comprehensive assessment of schools.
“This program aims to understand how far schools have achieved their objectives in terms of education policy in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses,” he said. The current education plan would be reviewed on the basis of the assessment, he added.
Another program, Al-Rasheed said, was designed to encourage schools to make progress in administration and education with the help of information technology. Regular tests will also be conducted to assess students’ ability in particular subjects.
Al-Rasheed also announced plans to expand the Globe education program to cover all schools. The program brings together students, teachers and scientists to discuss environmental issues.
The minister urged the teachers and educators to work hard to educate the younger generation and not to make things needlessly difficult for students. “We should bring happiness to students, give them hope and help them go through life with confidence,” he added.
