Saudi Arabia: Dad summoned for depriving son of education

Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor has ordered a father be summoned for interrogation on allegations that he deprived his son of education.

A video, posted on social media, showed the father claiming he was poor and had to pull his son out of school.

The prosecutor also ordered that authorities investigate the parent’s eligibility for social support, to ensure the protection of the child from all forms of neglect, and to grant him all his welfare rights, including his right to education.

Child's right

The Public Prosecution has affirmed the child’s right to receive education, including distance learning through dedicated platforms, and warned against causing the child to drop out of school.

“The Law on the Protection of Children emphasises that causing a child to drop out of education is an abuse or neglect, and that it conducts the investigation of violations of the provisions of this law and files a lawsuit against the violators with court,” the Public Prosecution said.

“The child is entitled to all benefits of the provision contained in the law to protect his rights. It is mandatory on the part of the child’s father or guardian or those who undertake the responsibility of guardianship to enroll the child in a school and prevent anything that deprives him or her of education,” the Public Prosecution said.