Our young people, both male and female, still face the problem of what to do in their leisure time. In the absence of outlets that could fill their free time, the young people resort to their own means, which are generally outside any family supervision or control. It is only when what is practiced in secrecy comes to the surface that people realize the serious moral and material effects.
A recent survey of secondary school students conducted by a researcher from Imam Muhammad ibn Saud University in Riyadh found that 83 percent of those polled said they didn’t know what to do with their leisure time. Around 70 percent said there were not enough recreation outlets in the Kingdom; 20 percent said their families objected to the kind of activities they were interested in pursuing; 14 percent cited economic reasons, saying they didn’t have the means to enable them to fill their free time. A small fraction — 9 percent — cited laziness and a lack of interest in doing anything.
The free time these young people have every day ranges from two to seven hours — with 70 percent saying they have more than seven hours of free time during school vacation. Sports remain the favorite outlet, attracting 82 percent, compared to 59 percent who said they prefer reading, 48 percent watch television and 46 percent kill time by driving aimlessly.
Much free time is spent with friends; 40 percent of those questioned said they hung out with friends as opposed to 39 percent who said they spent their free time with their families. Almost half of those surveyed take no part in any cultural activities nor do they visit local literary clubs and societies. The reasons given for the reluctance include the distant location of the places, the desire to do the same things as their friends, family objections and the notion that cultural activities are confined to one special segment of society.
The statistics contained in this study show how serious the problem could be if we don’t do more to help students spend their free time in profitable and beneficial ways. At present, we are faced with a situation in which an entire generation of young men and women are in need of having outlets so that they can utilize their free time by engaging in useful activities. It is time the authorities gave serious consideration to this problem. Turning a blind eye could lead to very serious repercussions, both morally and in terms of the country’s security.
