RIYADH, 1 January 2004 — Physical education (PE) could be introduced into girls’ schools for the first time in Saudi history. The introduction could become reality since, in a vote of 75-29 two weeks ago, the Shoura Council approved the recommendation. If approved by the king, the recommendation would put an end to a ban of more than 40 years which has prevented girls from participating in any form of sports in public schools.
Dr. Hussein Al-Alawi, chairman of the education affairs and scientific research committee, who is also a member of the Shoura, told AFP yesterday that the recommendation had been sent to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd. The king has the final say. “Seventy-five of the Shoura Council’s 120 members voted in favor of a recommendation by a council member to introduce sports into girls’ schools,” he explained.
Dr. Al- Alawi, however, was one of the Shoura members who voted against the recommendation. In an interview last week with Al-Eqtisadiah, a sister publication of Arab News, he argued that introducing PE for girls would not solve the problem of female obesity which is on the rise in the Kingdom. He pointed out that studies had shown that obesity is a problem among boys as well so evidently “physical education did not lead to desired goals.”
In his statement, Dr. Al-Alawi did not dispute the importance of physical education but he questioned whether every social problem could be solved by introducing it into the school curriculum.
Another member of the Shoura Council also confirmed that the recommendation had been sent to the king for a final decision.
“It is not part of the Shoura’s duties to make such a decision. Our recommendations are submitted to the king for approval, and subsequently handed to the Council of Ministers for discussion before a decision is made,” he told Arab News.
“It is not definite that PE will be introduced to the girls’ curriculum but the wording of our recommendation emphasized its benefits to girls’ health and the importance of it being within Islamic law and our traditions,” he said.
In a related development, the president of the Shoura Council, Sheikh Saleh Bin-Humaid, stated to the press yesterday that physical education would not be taught in government schools for girls next year, thus contradicting previous reports in the Saudi media.
“The Shoura voted that the matter should be discussed and not implemented,” said Sheikh Saleh to members of the press. His remarks were made after reports were published in the Saudi media that the Shoura Council had approved PE for girls and that it would be introduced into the curriculum next year.
Some Shoura members who voted for the introduction of girls’ PE argued that Islamic teachings do not ban women from taking part in sports.
They cited the example of Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (pbuh), who according to a Hadith challenged the Prophet (pbuh) to a foot race.
The members said that if this activity had been prohibited, the Prophet (pbuh) would not have allowed the activity to take place. The members also said that introducing PE could help create awareness among girls about improving their diet and health. The girls, they pointed out, would always be in a protected environment since only women instructors would teach them.
Those against the recommendation argued that introducing physical education into girls’ schools would be pointless, citing the example of PE having done nothing to reduce obesity among boys. A 1997 study on obesity in Saudi Arabia among the Saudi population aged 14 and above showed that 27.23 percent of males and 25.20 percent of females were overweight. The rate of obesity was 13.05 percent among males and 20.26 percent among females.
The higher rate among girls is no doubt due to factors which do not affect boys. Some of those factors are spending a great deal of time inside, having little access to sports and other physical activities, socializing where the main activity is eating and having maids to do household chores.
This study did not deal with obesity among children although it did indicate a trend. Overweight and obese children are at a greater risk of becoming overweight and obese adults.
Very few studies in Saudi Arabia have been done on the number of overweight and obese children between the ages of six and 16 years. Studies done in other countries, however, have sounded the alarm on increasing numbers of overweight children.
