NAJRAN: Najran Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah yesterday told teachers that the country and its people were pinning great hopes on them in order to achieve scientific progress, boost cultural development, disseminate moral values and develop a knowledge economy.
Opening an educational exhibition by girl students at the security forces housing compound in Najran, Prince Mishaal urged teachers to be kind to their students. “Kindness makes things beautiful while its absence makes them disgraceful,” he said quoting a saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He commended Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan for their efforts to improve the Kingdom’s educational standards.
“Education is the key to the development of a person and a country. Education builds minds and activates capabilities,” the governor said. “Teachers are part and parcel of this Kingdom, the cradle of Islam. They should set a good example to their students by practicing the teachings of Islam with good vision and insight.”
Prince Mishaal, who toured the exhibition accompanied by top officials including Salim Al-Dossary, director general of girls’ education in the province, commended the works of students displaying their skills and capabilities.
Ali Al-Shamrani, director general of boys’ education, praised the government for allocating SR100 billion to education in the national budget. “The government has also set aside SR9 billion for the King Abdullah General Education Development Project,” he told a meeting of the Education Councils in the province, which was attended by Prince Mishaal.
Al-Shamrani said four new schools had been established in Najran. “About 98 percent of public schools in Najran have their own buildings,” he said, adding that more than 56,000 pupils study in these schools.
Sara Al-Qahtani, a senior official of the girls’ education department in the province, spoke about preparations for the next academic year. “All girls’ schools in the province have been provided with their requirements.” She said renovation of schools would be carried out during summer holidays.
Fahd Oqala, assistant director of boys’ education, said about 1.3 percent of students in the region were handicapped, adding that a special committee had been formed to meet their requirements.
Aysha Al-Qahtani, supervisor of the King Abdullah Project, spoke about the efforts for self-development of teachers and the development of students’ skills. The King Fahd Secondary School in Najran is among the 50 best schools in the Kingdom which have applied the newly designed educational development program.
