Expatriate parents of schoolchildren following the British curriculum in international schools were worried over the current disruption of studies in schools due to Nitaqat fears. This fear was somewhat reduced by the front-page report of “Schools, hospitals not being targeted” (April 2). There are also international schools following different curricula in keeping with their countries’ educational system.

Children in grade 10 are supposed to sit for their IGCSE (O level) examinations conducted by the British Council in May/June and similarly children in grade 11 and 12 will sit for GCE (A levels) about the same time.

I believe that educated and experienced housewives working in international schools should not be considered as a threat to Saudization since the medium of instruction in these schools is mostly in English and their guidance to the children is very much needed. In the light of this, the expatriate community would appreciate if the Ministry of Education could intervene in persuading the labor department to grant a grace period, or an exemption, for these housewives to teach.

The expatriate community desperately hopes and prays that the current uncertainty over their children’s educational career will be solved soon and Nitaqat will not be a factor affecting their studies. The parents of the children, affected by the current uncertainty, have strong belief in the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and they are looking forward for an official announcement in this respect very soon. — S.H. Moulana, Riyadh