Mohammad Al-Shamrani, director general of education in Taif, said recently that despite the Ministry of Education having contracted a specialized catering company to provide quality food in school cafeterias, the services were far below standards.

He was addressing a meeting organized by the Department of Orientation and Guidance entitled “Our Country Our Wealth” with more than 300 students in attendance.

During the meeting Al-Shamrani said: “Despite our best efforts, food services in school cafeterias across the Kingdom continue to deteriorate by the day posing serious health hazards to students.”

Fielding various questions from students, he also discussed issues such as school buildings and the curriculum. The director general explained that within five years time the Kingdom will see a quantum leap in the quality of education.

He stated that many meetings will be held with students during the school semester which will also be attended by the schoolmasters and education supervisors. “The department of orientation and guidance seeks to establish programs that protect students’ from deviant thoughts and instill true Islamic principles in them,” he said.

Responding to a complaint by one student on the quality of health services provided in schools he said, that this did not come under the jurisdiction of the Education Ministry but “schools will appoint health supervisors in the near future.”

He confirmed that the Education Ministry was seeking to renovate and redesign school buildings noting that some buildings were seriously lacking in basic facilities.

“We have signed maintenance contracts worth millions for schools and it is unfair that students continue to suffer from poor or lack of facilities,” Al-Shamrani said.

He urged students to speak with their headmasters in this regard.

Al-Shamrani also drew the students’ attention to the great honor the country is blessed with in terms of serving the guests of God and called on the students to maintain their community and country as best they could.