Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia will resume the new school year via distance learning programs for seven weeks in all public schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh announced on Saturday.

"Distance education will begin on Aug. 30. We decided to start this year with distance learning for seven weeks after that we will determine if there is a need for an extension of any stage."

Al-Sheikh explained that studying for universities and technical training schools would be done remotely for theoretical courses, and in attendance for practical classes.

The Minister of Education added that male and female teachers' attendance would be set remotely in the virtual classroom.

The ministry also announced that 'Madrasati (My school)' platform for distance education will be launched along with 'Ain' TV channel.

Saudi Arabia suspended all schools, universities and educational institutions in the Kingdom since March 9 as part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak and instituted distance learning via online tools as an alternative.

The decision of the Ministry of Education areas follows:

Attendance of all members of the administrative staff in schools, deputy head teachers, student counselors, administrators and education supervisors shall be present throughout the working days during the week.

The male and female teachers will attend remotely along with their students in virtual classes, with male and female teachers attending the school at least one day per week in coordination with the school administration, and the education supervisors may exclude cases that are facing difficulty or it is impossible for them to reach the school.

The remote school day for the intermediate and secondary stages will start at 7:00 a.m., and for the elementary stage at 3:00 p.m., so as to facilitate for families and parents to follow up and help their children in this early age stage in distance education, and lessons can be followed up via Ain satellite channels, assignments and assessments with the schoolteacher.

The school administration will allocate at least one day per week for the attendance of male and female students or their parents, who cannot access the platform to follow up on assignments and evaluations and meet with the education staff with the implementation of the mandatory precautionary measures.

The education administrations responsible for directing and following up the schools shall distribute textbooks through communication between the school, students and their parents, according to a mechanism that ensures implementation of the precautionary measures.