Dubai: As Saudi Arabia’s schools and universities are suspended as part of precautionary measures to prevent the coronavirus outbreak, Saudis are recalling memories of Gulf War in 1991, when the schools and colleges were suspended for two months.
During the 1991 war, students and their parents lived in a state of confusion, fearing for their future due to the ambiguity of the mechanism for their transition to the next school stage, Saudi Arabic daily Okaz said.
This is exactly what students are experiencing now in view of the lack of time limit for the resumption of study.
Mohammad Al Shehri said he still has many memories about events he experienced 30 years ago, during the war for liberation of Kuwait.
“Then, I was in grade 10, and schools were shut down for two consecutive months, and then were reopened after the land campaign and the liberation of Kuwait. The two-month closure has led to cancellation of one third of the school curriculum, and then I was promoted to grade 11.”
He pointed out that parents today voice the same concerns over the future of their children in light of the suspension of schools for an unspecified time, and that there is no mechanism on how students can make up for it.
“If the school suspension continues, what would be the solution, and how students can be promoted to higher classes? I have a problem to review subjects for my children as per the distance learning platform,” Al Shehri said, and expressed his hope that the Ministry of Education would come up with solutions.
Khalid Al Amiri said the suspension of schools now is a very important and necessary decision amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. “It is extremely important decision to ensure the safety of students and the society as a whole.”
Meanwhile, 69 Saudi male and female students in Italy have been evacuated and returned home safely. The evacuation was conducted in coordination between the Saudi embassy and Saudi airlines.
