Some 200 primary school pupils have refused to go to school in Al-Haniyah Al-Shamiyah, 40 km north of Makkah, because the education directorate has integrated them with older students of intermediate and secondary levels.

The education directorate has also neglected to heed parents’ demands to keep the two age groups separately.

The decision was taken due to the unavailability of a suitable building for the primary school students whose old structure was in dilapidated condition.

The Civil Defense department recommended another building but as there was none immediately available the education directorate shifted the pupils to the building with intermediate and secondary level students.

Families are angry over the decision which they say is a breach of regulations. They wonder how a six-year-old will interact with an 18-year-old student.

They have filed a complaint with the Al-Jamoum office director and another one with the Makkah education director saying that the integration of pupils with such disparity in age groups was not beneficial.

Explaining the decision of the authorities, the director of education in Al-Jamoum, Ibrahim Al-Thaqafi, said a whole floor has been allocated to primary school students. Aside from this, break times for primary students are different from those of older pupils.

He pointed out that the education director has visited the location and approved these changes until an alternative building can be provided.

The education directorate has also issued a statement saying that the school has a new project under the administration’s plan.

The school will have separate exit and entry points while prayer times and breaks will be organized within a schedule different from that of older students.