Monday’s session was chaired by Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh.
Secretary-General Muhammad Al-Ghamdi said Monday that a set of recommendations was delivered to the Ministry of Education when its annual report was discussed at the council. The report was presented by the council’s education and scientific affairs committee.
He said members strongly recommended that there should be a mechanism to ensure scientific and professional evaluations of teachers and their performance. He pointed out that any teacher who does not comply with the expectations of the ministry should be allowed to find another suitable position according to his capabilities.
Appreciating the role played by the Ministry of Education in imparting knowledge among children, the members indicated that the curriculum, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities of the school be based on the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and in line with the culture of Saudi society. The house also unanimously agreed that the contract for the transport of teachers, college students and children be given to companies in the private sector.
The members urged the ministry to find appropriate solutions for people who work on a part- time basis and teachers who retire early.
While finding solutions, the house felt that the ministry needed to make child-centered decisions to help students to carry out their academic activities as envisaged.
Al-Ghamdi said that the council also recommended that the ministry consider a program to integrate special needs children into regular educational institutions according to the “education for fall” theory expounded by the UN.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child calls for making primary education compulsory, available and free to all children. It also requires that children with disabilities have access to and receive education in a manner that will help each child achieve the fullest possible social integration and individual development.
The Kingdom is a signatory to the convention. The council also recommended that the ministry liaise with institutions that offer foreign private education in the Kingdom to identify their problems and rectify them.
