Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MADINAH — Months after the Ministry of Education decided to introduce physical education in the girls schools all over the Kingdom, officials at the Department of Girls' Education in the Madinah said they had not received any directives from the ministry in this regard.

"The department has so far not received any instructions on the issue from the ministry. There are no clear-cut guidelines," one official said.

Aminah Al-Hojaili, director of a girls school leader, expected the physical education for girls to be limited to light exercises to be practiced after the morning parade.

She said the girls would not be obliged to put on sports wear and would be in their usual school uniforms.

She said if the physical education was made obligatory in girls schools, the schools should be supplied with special sports equipment, toilets and places for the girls to keep their clothes.

Director of another girls' school, which is operating from a rented building, complained about the lack of spacious areas for the girls to practice sports.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, she said the morning parade had been cancelled at her school because of this.

"Limited space in rented buildings will hinder the physical education for girls," she said.

Okaz/Saudi Gazette attempted to talk on the issue to the department of education spokesman for the past three days without any success.

On the other hand, the girls students were anxiously waiting for the sports to be introduced in their schools.

Sara Abdul Rahman, a student, hoped the sport would kick away laziness, especially as all the classes involve rote memorization.

Safiyah Al-Harbe, another schoolgirl, agreed and said the study hours were long and tedious.

"I hope sports classes will soon be introduced to break the monotony of the long school day," she said.

Rawan Abdulaziz, who was overweight, said she had been regularly practicing sports outside the school for two years.

She said she lost weight because of this.

"If the physical education has been introduced in all the girls schools, it will improve the health of the students over time," she said.