JEDDAH: Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah paid a surprise visit to schools in Jeddah and expressed his satisfaction over their preparations for the new academic year, especially in taking precautionary measures against swine flu.
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has instructed that an adequate number of teachers should be trained on dealing with the disease before the reopening of schools,” the minister said, adding that prevention is better than treatment.
He said educational partnerships with the wider society would contribute to enhancing awareness about the disease.
“Our officials are capable of shouldering this responsibility and what I have seen today at schools in Jeddah is clear proof of that.” Prince Faisal was accompanied by his deputies Faisal bin Muammar and Khaled Al-Sabti, and other senior officials including Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, director of education in Jeddah. He also visited Prince Muhammad bin Saud Al-Kabir Educational Complex and inspected rooms used to quarantine affected students.
The prince also discussed with teachers preparations for the reopening and how far they have benefited from the training programs that were conducted during the past few days. He also attended a training program at Al-Salama private schools.
While visiting a school that is running in a rented building, Prince Faisal said he would exert maximum efforts to shift the school to its own building. He also praised teachers for welcoming students for the new academic year.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry announced on Saturday that it was postponing giving MMR/DPT/OPV vaccines to Class 1 students of primary schools from Oct. 10 to Dec. 19, adding that the campaign would continue for five weeks.
The ministry said the measure was taken to provide students with vaccines against H1N1. Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah has set up an international advisory council at the ministry including experts in the field. The ministry will make use of the council’s advices while planning and implementing its current and future health projects, especially the national health-care project.
Dr. Khaled Al-Mirghalani, spokesman of the ministry, said the council would present its proposals on improving the ministry’s services and establishing partnership with international health institutions, upgrading infrastructure facilities and the ministry’s readiness to deal with emergency situations.
“It will also give advice and support to the ministry on taking precautionary measures against contagious diseases, supervision and early detection of such diseases, and methods of controlling them,” the spokesman said.
He said the minister has set up two more bodies: the National Advisory Council; and Media Advisory Council, adding that the two councils would comprise Saudi experts and would contribute to further improving health-care services in the Kingdom.
