RIYADH: Mixed graduation ceremonies with parents and students of two institutions — King Faisal University in Dammam (KFU) and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Dhahran — have irked conservatives who saw it as going against customs, values and religion.
A video clip of the KFU graduation ceremony, which first started with parents at the scene, sparked off a heated debate on social media between the proponents and opponents of such ceremonies, a local daily reported Sunday.
The opponents said they reject the idea because of the music and the mixing of genders. Those in favor said graduation represents the final moments of emotion and happiness for parents and their children.
The presence of the parents has become common. A student from the KFUPM was quoted as saying that mothers get prepared to attend early as the ceremony is held in the sports stadium, where women and men sit separately.
Meanwhile, mothers of students studying in the King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh expressed their desire to attend the graduation ceremonies, even as the university has been airing the ceremony live on television for female students for years.
A KSU official was quoted as saying that the university is in the process of completing its closed sports hall with a seating capacity of 10,000, where graduation ceremonies will be held and mothers will be allowed to attend. “I am in favor of parents attending the graduation ceremony, especially since some of the halls are appropriate and some partitioned. As far as covering of the face is concerned, they are free to decide according to customs. Attendance will not be compulsory,” said Mohammad Al-Ahmad of KSU.
“I simply don’t want to see my son being honored for graduation on the television. I want is see him in the eye and hug him,” said one mother.
“My parents wish to see me being honored with the graduation degree,” said one student.
“When I told my parents about my graduation ceremony. My father asked me if fathers are allowed to attend, which means he really does want to attend. I think a father is closer to his daughters and I don’t think he will mind if the hall is partitioned,” a female student said.
A video clip of the KFU graduation ceremony, which first started with parents at the scene, sparked off a heated debate on social media between the proponents and opponents of such ceremonies, a local daily reported Sunday.
The opponents said they reject the idea because of the music and the mixing of genders. Those in favor said graduation represents the final moments of emotion and happiness for parents and their children.
The presence of the parents has become common. A student from the KFUPM was quoted as saying that mothers get prepared to attend early as the ceremony is held in the sports stadium, where women and men sit separately.
Meanwhile, mothers of students studying in the King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh expressed their desire to attend the graduation ceremonies, even as the university has been airing the ceremony live on television for female students for years.
A KSU official was quoted as saying that the university is in the process of completing its closed sports hall with a seating capacity of 10,000, where graduation ceremonies will be held and mothers will be allowed to attend. “I am in favor of parents attending the graduation ceremony, especially since some of the halls are appropriate and some partitioned. As far as covering of the face is concerned, they are free to decide according to customs. Attendance will not be compulsory,” said Mohammad Al-Ahmad of KSU.
“I simply don’t want to see my son being honored for graduation on the television. I want is see him in the eye and hug him,” said one mother.
“My parents wish to see me being honored with the graduation degree,” said one student.
“When I told my parents about my graduation ceremony. My father asked me if fathers are allowed to attend, which means he really does want to attend. I think a father is closer to his daughters and I don’t think he will mind if the hall is partitioned,” a female student said.
