The Ministry of Education plans to launch 1,000 fitness and social clubs for girls around the country by the end of 2015.

Noura Al-Fayez, deputy minister of education for girls, said on Wednesday that the aim is to ensure these clubs are for members of the community, particularly young people, to develop a range of skills.

Al-Fayez made the comments on Wednesday during a tour of a club in Riyadh.

Al-Fayez was welcomed by Samira Sheaibi, assistant director of the girls education department in Riyadh; Nadia Al-Ghyshian, assistant general supervisor of the program; Nora Alkanaan, director of the Shifa education office; Nora Budaiya, director of the club; and several supervisors and management activity directors.

Al-Fayez toured the various sections of the club that caters for 350 females. She said that these facilities are the pride of the nation. They enable families to stay in touch with their local school, and provide a wide range of required and extracurricular activities at public schools.

She thanked the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for supporting the ministry's efforts to improve education.

She also thanked Minister of Education Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, the Riyadh education department and the King Abdullah Project for Developing Public Education (Tatweer) for developing these clubs in the Kingdom.

Al-Ghyshian said Al-Fayez's visit has motivated members of the club to improve the project. Sheaibi thanked the ministry for its support.

Tatweer opened the first two clubs for girls in Riyadh neighborhoods last year. It had trained female teachers to conduct fitness programs and help students use exercise equipment.

It also launched several new clubs as part of its district schools project for education and recreation activities, for male and female students and families, close to their local schools.

The intention is to provide additional education services and evening courses to help students overcome learning difficulties, and opportunities for talented and creative people.