JEDDAH: The Ministry of Education plans to organize several activities to keep students occupied during this year’s extra-long school holidays, according to a recent local media report.

Teachers will enjoy about 100 days of summer vacation this year and students about 120, making this year’s holiday the longest in the past 10 years. The ministry announced the vacation would start on Ramadan 4 (June 9) and end on Dhul Hijjah 17 (Sept. 18). Last year, teachers had 60 days and students 80, while the previous year it was 37 and 88 days.

Abdulrahman Al-Amri, education adviser at the ministry, said the main goal of the programs this summer is to ensure that students are stimulated intellectually and can build positive behavior. The programs would be developed by education committees, field practitioners and social experts, he said.

Academic and educator Ayed Al-Qarni said the long summer holiday must be utilized productively by the ministry to help students reach their education goals and reduce the burden of learning on them during the school year. For teachers, he proposed focused training programs at official institutions in the Kingdom, while the ministry should complete renovations and development of school facilities.

The report also stated that the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage has signed an agreement with the ministry to organize tourism trips for students under the “Live the Kingdom” program. The ministry has urged its staff and students to propose ideas for activities this school holidays via the e-portal Saif Al-Watan.