JEDDAH: Both the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Ministry of Education have denied they are responsible for the contents of textbooks used in the Kingdom's international schools.

The dispute arose after a history textbook was found describing Palestinians in occupied territories as terrorists. The book in question has since been withdrawn from the curriculum.

The Ministry of Information and Culture said that it has no role whatsoever in checking textbooks for use in government or international schools.

Earlier, the Ministry of Education said that all textbooks for use in international schools come from abroad after being vetted and approved by the Ministry of Information and Culture. The ministry said that all private and international schools come under the purview of the Ministry of Education.

Anas Al-Quseir, spokesman for the Information and Culture Ministry, said the ministry doesn’t accuse or evaluate the works or performance of other ministries. Moreover, the Information and Culture Ministry has no role in reviewing school textbook contents.

Speaking to Arab News, he said: “My recent statement, published in a local publication on Thursday, was clear. I have clarified rules and regulations of importing school textbooks. The rules prove that the Ministry of Information and Culture doesn’t review school textbook contents.”

The Press and Publication Law issued by Royal Decree No. M -32, dated 3-9-1421H, states in its Article 21 that the monitoring by the Ministry of Culture and Information does not apply to imports of educational institutions.

Article 70 of the Implementing Regulations of Press and Publication state that government agencies, educational and research institutions, scientific societies, literary clubs, and journalistic civil institutions, import publications without being subjected to regulatory actions.

The role of the Ministry of Culture and Information is limited to providing shipments of books for international schools that come from abroad, from an administrative point of view, without being subjected to regulatory actions or intervention in the content, according to the system and the regulations, according to Al-Quseir.

Othman Al-Qassabi, president of the private education committee at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, however, put the responsibility of checking the contents of imported books squarely on the shoulders of the Ministry of Education.

“The Ministry of Information and Culture doesn’t interfere in the education process in the Kingdom. Only the Ministry of Education is responsible for reviewing the contents of school textbooks. This rule is well-known and it is in line with the official regulation,” he told Arab News.

All school textbooks in the Kingdom must comply with the political and religious policies of Saudi Arabia.