Saudi Arabia: 300,000 students withdraw from private schools

Dubai: More than 300,000 students have withdrawn from Saudi private schools have following the decision to continue remote learning for kindergarten and elementary phase of school education in the new academic year, local media reported.

According to Ibrahim Al Hamlan, member of the National Committee for Education at the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC), investors in private and foreign education sector have incurred heavy losses due to the sudden withdrawals of students.

Al Hamlan said that a state of great confusion prevailed among private and foreign schools at the beginning of the new academic year, which hindered the better planning and preparations for the new academic year.

He added the private school sector did not get enough time to properly plan during the new academic year because of the communication gap with the authorities concerned.

“Even though it is the prerogative of the competent educational authorities to decide on the resumption of in-person learning in the new academic year, they could inform the National Committee for Education at FSC about the possible scenario for the learning system in the current year from an early date, so that investors in private and foreign education sector could make proper planning and arrangements for the academic year,” he said.

Al Hamlan emphasised that an effective partnership between the relevant government agencies and the private sector is necessary for the growth of the sector.